Returning Veteran Receives Warm Welcome from Caldwells Crowd

CALDWELLS, NJ -- Clouds and rain did not dampen the mood on Deerfield Road on Thursday when a crowd of neighbors filled the street awaiting the return of a Caldwells war veteran from his long stay overseas. 

Matt O’Hern finished nearly a year-long commitment this week to the United States National Guard Military Police where he fought in Afghanistan. With the desert of war half a world away, O’Hern was led yesterday to his home on Deerfield Road by a cavalcade of more than 12 cars and police cruisers. 

Greeting O’Hern at his doorstep was more than 150 people and emergency vehicles all standing beneath an American flag waving atop an outstretched fire engine ladder.  

“It’s outstanding,” said O’Hern about the celebratory welcome home. “I couldn’t have been luckier to have a town like West Caldwell and all the surrounding towns that came in and helped out.”

Deerfield Road looked like a microcosm of Fourth of July. Three fire engines and a handful of emergency vehicles blocked the street and blared their sirens and flashed their lights to welcome O’Hern home. American flags were hanging from neighbors’ homes and yellow ribbons — the color supporting the armed forces — were strung on telephone poles.  

Click on the video in the gallery above to see the crowd welcoming O'Hern as he steps out of the car for the first time. 

Neighbors and friends gathered in front of the O’Herns house with signs and noisemakers. Nearly 10 Girl Scouts from Troop 1226 also made their own posters and stood in front of lawn sign on the O’Hern's property that said “Welcome Home from Afghanistan.” 

Lisa Appello joined the crowd on the street with her husband and children. Appello, who lives next door to the O’Herns, said she can remember O’Hern growing up and playing on a jungle gym in his backyard. 

“We’ve known him for so many years and we’re excited to welcome him home,” said Appello over the sounds of noisemakers. “We’re very proud of him and so excited that he is safe ... and that he’s home." 

Commander of the James Caldwell Post 185 American Legion Dan Handy was also on Deerfield Road Thursday with other legion members. Handy, who served in the Navy during the Vietnam War in the Mediterranean Sea, said the local Legion will show O’Hern a good time now that he’s home. 

“We came down to welcome him home,” said Handy. “We’re glad that he’s home safe and has no injuries. It’s good to have him home.”

As soon as O’Hern stepped out of the car still wearing his fatigues and boots, he was surrounded and met with hugs. The outpouring of sentiment from the community was “unbelievable,” said O’Hern’s mother Leanne. “I can’t even express — it’s just unbelievable.” 

O’Hern, who graduated from James Caldwell High School in 2011, had flown to Fort Dix in New Hanover Township Thursday and was then bused to the New Jersey National Guard Armory in Lawrenceville. His family and friends greeted him there, where he was also awarded the Distinguished Service medal. 

Now that he's home, O'Hern said he has his sights set on taking the police academy test this weekend and expects to attend the Essex County Police Academy in August. After that, he said he’ll be looking for a job. 

But on Thursday, O’Hern said the first thing he was going to do was simple: “I’m going to go inside, get out of my uniform that I’ve been in for the past 11 months and shower."