My favorite story of the year in 2010 was writing about Marine Ben Maenza’s homecoming.  Army Spc. 4 Andrew Wilson’s story this year mirrors it in almost every way. Granted Ben didn’t get quite the hero’s welcome that Andrew did yesterday, but his story and the experience definitely paved the way for the great outpouring of funds, volunteers and support we’ve seen in recent weeks.

More than any other individual involved, Brentwood Police Chief Ricky Watson helped bring both young men home to Brentwood. He told me Tuesday afternoon that that morning’s crowd was bigger than “I even dreamed would be there… Literally thousands of people turned out. It was the first time I’d ever seen something like that.”

While many others, including myself, are giving the chief the biggest kudos for making it all happen, he is quick to deflect the glory and instead begins reciting a laundry list of people, businesses and organizations who unselfishly gave their time and money to help the effort.

He started with Michael Miller with the Lee Company, Tyke Johnson of Brentwood Builders LLC and Alan Jensen of HomeLift who helped retrofit the Wilson’s Brentwood home to make it wheelchair accessible.

“One hundred percent,” the chief replied when I asked if all of the work had been completed.  “When we got to the house, they were wiping out the bathtub.”

He mentioned physical therapist Virgil Hockersmith  who is coordinating all of Andrew’s PT with Star Physical Therapy while he is home so he doesn’t lose any ground in his progress.

Then there are the two Beckys. Becky Gregory who stepped up for a second time to coordinate the yellow ribbon campaign. She came up with the idea last year for Ben’s return and then led the much-more coordinated effort this year for Andrew.  Becky Ross of the Wounded Warrior Project helped spread the word among that organization for its support.

The work of Ben Davis and Graham Baker of the Exchange Club and the Ravenwood Marching Band would have made singer Lee Greenwood even prouder to be an American. Davis and Baker hung all of the American flags along Franklin Road while band parents and graduates from both Ravenwood and Brentwood high bands came together to install over 275 flags along Concord and Sunset roads.

Sheepishly, the chief sent a big thank you to H.G. Hill Realty, owner of the Hill Center Brentwood and the former Murray Ohio building for letting them stage the short welcome home ceremony held for Andrew, and the starting point for the motorcade. “I appreciate their understanding and support,” he said – especially since he didn’t ask permission, probably the only glitch of the entire plan.

I told him I thought this was a perfect example of a perfect time to "ask for forgiveness rather than permission.

Of the impressive turnout of Patriot Guard Riders – the group formed in 2005 to attend veterans’ funerals to drown out hateful Westboro Baptist Church members’ protests, Watson said, “I was anticipating 20 and this morning they called and said they would have 40.”

He also wanted to thank Vice Mayor Rod Freeman, City Commissioner Jill Burgin and all of the other elected officials who attended. And, of course, all of the older vets representing the Korean, Viet Nam and the early Iraq war that came to the Murray building to honor Andrew.

The chief even gave a shout out to the man up above for helping out with the weather. He likes to see things half full. Yes, it was raining and 55 degrees. But it was Dec. 20 and 55 degrees, not 32. And it was expected to be a heavy rain and it was only a drizzle, at least for most of the morning. Best of all, “It stopped raining completely for that moment,” he said, when the limo – arranged courtesy of Bill Faeth, COO of Grand Avenue Limousine – pulled into the Wilsons’ driveway.

“I think someone was looking out for us,” he said. “It’s even more rewarding to know that the weather wasn’t the best and still that many people showed up.”

He also gave a shout out to Tom Lawrence and WAKM-Radio for donating $2000 in free advertising of the homecoming. (Sorry Tom, I listed the wrong radio station earlier!)

The press wasn’t allowed inside the Wilsons’ home Tuesday, but Watson was. He described the young soldier as “a fine, motivated young man with the heart of a lion. He’s a hero in my mind.”

The chief is retiring early next year. He may have six weeks left to run the police department, but he said, “There’s nothing that will be any more rewarding between now and then.”

Last year I named Chief Watson BrentWord’s Brentwoodian of the Year for his efforts to bring Ben home. He's definitely in the running to win the title again.

Thank you. And thanks to everyone else mentioned here. It was an amazing day for Andrew and everyone who witnessed it.

Susan Leathers is editor of Brentwood Home Page. Click here to read previous columns. Email her at susan@brentwoodhomepage.com