DENVER -
It may be a few days late but there is a very special Thanksgiving celebration going on tonight in Longmont.
A local soldier who was injured in Iraq came home to spend the holidays with his family.
It's been a long wait for specialist Paul Bryan and an even longer wait for his family.
"This is the first time we've gotten to see him since he's been injured," said his mother Kristina Smith.
They worried about him every day since he went back to Iraq in Feburary.
Unfortunately, two days after he got back, his truck ran over an IED. Bryan was fortunate he only got a severe concussion, the Sgt sitting next to him lost both of his legs below the knee
His grandmother says Paul was always interested in the army "when he was going to go overseas, I told him 'Paul will you carry an angel?' He said yes. I gave him two angels. It was mangled when they took it out of his pocket - that saved his life."
They are thankful to have Paul home but they know other families aren't so fortunate.
"Thank goodness it was a phone call and not a knock on the door saying your son's been killed," said Paul's mom. "Less than three weeks after this, they lost three other soldiers in their unit during an explosion."
Paul knows how fortunate he is, and is thankful to have such a supportive family and community. "I love their support, love what they do for me every time I come home best thing ever to see them every chance I can. "You just really have realize how important it is everyday to be thankful every day you got to hear their voice. That you got to say I love you before you hung up, it may be the last time you get to say I love you."
Paul may have had an angel watching over him but maybe he is acting as an angel for all of us.
A local soldier who was injured in Iraq came home to spend the holidays with his family.
It's been a long wait for specialist Paul Bryan and an even longer wait for his family.
"This is the first time we've gotten to see him since he's been injured," said his mother Kristina Smith.
They worried about him every day since he went back to Iraq in Feburary.
Unfortunately, two days after he got back, his truck ran over an IED. Bryan was fortunate he only got a severe concussion, the Sgt sitting next to him lost both of his legs below the knee
His grandmother says Paul was always interested in the army "when he was going to go overseas, I told him 'Paul will you carry an angel?' He said yes. I gave him two angels. It was mangled when they took it out of his pocket - that saved his life."
They are thankful to have Paul home but they know other families aren't so fortunate.
"Thank goodness it was a phone call and not a knock on the door saying your son's been killed," said Paul's mom. "Less than three weeks after this, they lost three other soldiers in their unit during an explosion."
Paul knows how fortunate he is, and is thankful to have such a supportive family and community. "I love their support, love what they do for me every time I come home best thing ever to see them every chance I can. "You just really have realize how important it is everyday to be thankful every day you got to hear their voice. That you got to say I love you before you hung up, it may be the last time you get to say I love you."
Paul may have had an angel watching over him but maybe he is acting as an angel for all of us.
Digg
Twitter
Facebook
StumbleUpon
