Oswego Welcomes Home One of Its Heroes

Oswego welcomed home one of its military heroes Friday night with a surprise parade across town. 

U.S. Navy Petty Officer Melissa Bavone, returned to Oswego after three years aboard the USS Essex based out of Sasebo, Japan. The parade, which included police and fire vehicles, was staged by the Naperville-based Operation Welcome You Home. The group's mission is "to provide respectful, throughtful, uplifting and joyous homecomings for all of our returning warriors and their families." 

Bavone was born in Winfield and graduated from George Nelson Tremper High School in Kenosha, Wis. She attended "A" school at NAS Pensacola, Fla. and "C" school in San Diego, Calif.

While stationed in Japan, Bavone completed many qualifications including air warfare and surface warfare. She also received a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for her meticulous work and supervision during the ships inspection survey. She also received the Overseas (3) and Sea Service (3) ribbons.

Upon completing her duty on Essex and aiding in President Obama's orders of humanitarian relief for the victims of the tsunami in Japan, she will report to Tinker AFB in Oklahoma in May to earn the Air Force's E-6B Mercury. When finished she will report to Travis AFB in California in September for two years of shore duty.

Bavone had not seen her family in about three years before Friday. Though Patch couldn't be there for the parade, Village Preisent Brian LeClercq's son Evan shot lots of photos and sent them along to us Monday. Thanks so much to Evan!