The first e-mail from Kari Westby at the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon organization said that a soldier, James Sherwood, would be coming home to Becker on Saturday morning, with an escort of police and fire vehicles to being him to his waiting family and friends gathered at the Becker City Hall.
And that information was correct, as far as it went. The even better portion of the story was that was that his brother, Sam Sherwood, who had also been serving in the Middle East, was also returning at the same time, and would be with him when the escort pulled in to the city hall.
At the appointed hour, 11 a.m. Saturday, a group of friends and family were joined by members of the Becker BYTR awaiting the arrival of the two soldiers. With lights flashing and sirens wailing the caravan, led by Becker Police Chief Brent Baloun and including an engine from the Becker Fire Dept., made its way down Sherburne Ave. to the city hall for the reunion.
Once out of the vehicles, Becker resident James was met by his wife Joy and a group of family and friends, all of who had been holding small U.S. Flags as they waited for the vehicles to arrive. At the same time, older brother Sam of Little Falls was embracing his family and friends as they celebrated the safe return of both men before all departing for a more private reunion ceremony.
