By Jim Keithley

Sentry staff



    Army Specialist Jason Swiger returned home to South
Portland last weekend after serving a second tour in Iraq.

    Swiger, 21, pulled off the Maine Turnpike Exit 7,
near the Maine Mall, and noticed a large crowd had gathered at the
commuter parking lot. There was a South Portland police cruiser, a city
fire truck, a small army of family members, area veterans, three TV
cameras and a stretch limousine waiting.

    “A true hero’s reception,” said veteran Ted Cook, 74, of the VFW Post 832.

    “We came back from Korea and nobody met us,” Cook said.

    Fellow veteran, Mike Green, 71, agreed.

    “I think it’s a good thing,” he said. “We came to meet Jason for a little support.”

    Swiger’s red sports car pulled into the parking lot
about two hours later than expected. The waiting crowd didn’t seem to
mind. After driving 18-hours straight from Fort Bragg, North Carolina,
Swiger was happy to be home.

    “I am so glad to be home,” he said.

    Asked if he was surprised by the big reception, Swiger said, “Yes, extremely surprised. I’m astonished.”

    This is Swiger’s first trip home in a year. He had
just come off his second tour in Iraq. Swiger returned to his home base
at Fort Bragg, North Carolina on April 7, after spending seven months
in the war zone.

    Swiger is a member of the 82nd Airborne Division. He
joined the U.S. Army shortly after graduating from South Portland High
School in 2000.

    His unit was first deployed to Iraq in February
2003. Swiger spent three months there as a cavalry scout or gunner. He
said his unit’s mission was to keep main supply routes open.

    “We’re the first in, last out,” he told reporters.
“It our job to go in and secure the perimeters and make sure the area
is safe for the convoys,” he said.

    Swiger’s unit was called-up for a second tour in
Sept. 2003 and just returned two weeks ago. Swiger said his second tour
brought his unit to the volatile area of Falluja, an area where
coalition forces are being killed by insurgents on a daily basis.

    “This time they were shot at every day,” his mother
said, referring to letters she had received. “Four of his fellow
soldiers are coming home with purple hearts because they were hurt,”
she said.

    Jason Swiger did not talk about his war stories when
he arrived home for a 14-day leave last Saturday. He talked about the
show of support and how much it meant to him.

    His sisters held signs that said; “Welcome Home Jason” and “Thank You Jason.”

    His younger brother, Charlie, waved an American Flag. And then there was the stretch Limousine.

    Bobbie Lilley, owner of Lilley’s Limousine, said she
was honored to donate her time and one of her limos for a returning
solider.

    “I really wanted to do this as a thank you to all
the people serving us,” she said. “It’s a way for them to come home to
a little luxury.”

    There were television news cameras from all three
local TV affiliates. After the hugs from family members, Swiger talked
to reporters. He said he was overwhelmed by the show of support here at
the Exit 7 parking lot.

    “I saw all this and said, Wow.”

    “It is one of the greatest feelings in the world,” he said. “All of the support, the love.”

    Valorie Swiger, who organized the homecoming event
for her military son said she was equally moved by the show of support
from the community.

    “I’m very proud of him,” she said. “It’s a relief that he’s back and safe.”

    Jason Swiger jumped into the stretch limo and was
given a police escort through his hometown. The family had planned a
reception at the American Legion Hall.

    As Swiger left he said, “My heart’s the size of my car tire right now, it’s pretty huge.”

    And the procession continued on.

    Underneath the happiness of Swiger’s homecoming,
Valorie Swiger is waging her own war against South Portland city
officials.

    She, along with the help of local veterans, has
gathered enough signatures to force a referendum on a resolution
supporting U.S. troops. The resolution was shot-down by the previous
council last spring. Swiger has been accused of “forcing patriotism” on
the people. She was quick to respond to a Portland newspaper editorial
that came out the day before her son’s arrival.

    “How can you force patriotism?” she said. “I’m an American. I think I’m here to support my fellow man.”

    Swiger’s resolution will go before the current city
council on Wednesday, April 21, (after the Sentry’s deadline).

    The council will either adopt the resolution as is
(see “Resolution” post), or send it onto to the voters in November.

    Last year, city councilors crafted their own
resolution, omitting references to Sept. 11, President Bush and the war
in Iraq, all seen as controversial points the council did not like.
That resolution passed, but only after monopolizing every council
meeting for several months.

    Swiger and the veterans said the new resolution was “watered down” and waged their petition drive.

    Mayor Linda Boudreau is hoping to nip another potential controversy in the bud.

    “I hope that someone will make a motion to send it
onto the voters,” Boudreau said. “There’s no sense fighting about it
again,” she said. “I don’t think we should go down that path again.”