By JODI RALL
In the Bubble columnist
This week’s In the Bubble column is dedicated to every person who stood in the rain Tuesday to honor Brentwood’s young war hero, Spec.  4 Andrew Wilson. Know many of you wanted to be along the parade route and could not be, so I will try my best to put words to paper of how deeply moved I was at the outpouring of love from Brentwood.

First, I have never been prouder to call Brentwood my home than I was on Tuesday.

By 10:45 with rain pounding down, people were making their way to line up and down Concord Road. Upon stepping out of my Suburban, my heart immediately began to beat a little faster and the lump that would stay the rest of the day began to rise in my throat.

Young and old alike made their way to pay tribute to Andrew.  War veterans, young families and a current Navy Seal were only a few of the people I met from Brentwood. Spirits were high and at times cheering broke out; with still 30 minutes to wait at one point I looked at my watch with amazement as smiles abounded everywhere I looked.

The flags . . .

This will sound corny but the song playing in my head was from Lee Greenwood’s God Bless the USA because of my pride in being an American, as the Old Glory never looked finer waving in the wind and rain as citizens anxiously awaited the motorcade. I took a photo of Stuart Dill and Maral Missirian-Dill holding their large flag brought from home. There was something so beautiful and simplistic in them standing arm and arm waiting.

I was especially inspired by the alumni of 2007 representing Brentwood Academy. Andrew was their classmate and one of their own -- this was personal and for some painful to watch.

In addition I loved the young man from the senior class at Brentwood Academy, Victor Bush, who eloquently shared: “It is a God thing that we chose the Wounded Warrior Project as our senior class mission. To have one of our own BA alumni tragically affected a few short months later . . .” As seniors wore their "Honor a Hero" shirts, who would have known the hero would be someone from their own community and school?

I spoke with Tom and Denise Vogel who waited by River Park with their children and friends. Denise shared a few thoughts about the day with me: “It was an overwhelming and humbling experience to be part of the turnout to honor Spec. Andrew C. Wilson. Our hearts and prayers go out to Andrew and his family. The Brentwood community is such a great place, everyone is so supportive of each other, and we were glad to be there for Andrew.”

As I watched the motorcade go by and head toward the Brentwood YMCA, the masses of people spilled out into the street cheering and waving American flags, first for the Wounded Warriors motorcycle riders, and then the limo carrying Andrew and family passing by. I think that was the moment for me as a member of this community that will live in my heart forever.

Tears streamed down my face mixed with raindrops as I watched men, women and children pouring out their hearts to a real hero.

Thank you Brentwood and Merry Christmas. My wish for you this year is summed up best in the words of Amy Grant’s song Grown Up Christmas List:

So here’s my lifelong wish
My grown-up Christmas list
Not for myself
But for a world in need

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown-up Christmas list

From In the Bubble, until next week my friends,

Jodi