mama believer

This evening I found myself choking back tears. Not because I was sad, but because I am so proud. I am proud to have grown up in this suburb. Although I may have moved away for a while, I am proud I moved back. This is home. This is a great home with an amazing community. This is Owasso.

We recently heard news of a local fallen soldier, Specialist Andrew Looney. Spc. Looney, 22, was one of two soldiers killed last Monday after an insurgent detonated a suicide vest at a traffic control point. Looney joined the Army right after he graduated Owasso High School, and he served in Iraq as well. He suffered a brain injury and lost half of his foot during a tour there in 2007. Still, he remained in the service and went to Afghanistan. Our hero, Andrew Looney, will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Tonight, hundreds of people showed up lining the streets of Owasso to pay their respects to our fallen hero and the family he left behind. Everyone wanted to show their support for not only Andrew Looney and his family but for all US troops who fight for our freedoms.

I have never seen anything like what I saw this evening. I am finding it really hard to describe everything with words. Our community rallied together standing shoulder to shoulder, holding flags and dressing up in red, white and blue. I found myself not being able to speak in a normal voice. I couldn't speak at all. My throat hurt and my eyes watered from choking back tears. I mean, I knew we supported Andrew Looney and all other US soldiers, but it's a whole new World when you see the support in person. It's so much more than words can describe. People who were there tonight will agree with me.

I am so proud of our troops.

I am so proud to be an American.

I am so proud to call Owasso my home.