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Staff Sgt. Denissa Granger thought she was going to the Elks Lodge for a singing event Thursday evening, but instead she was surprised with a welcome home by members of the American Legion Riders from Post 81.
Granger, a member of the Marine Corp, had just returned home last week from Afghanistan and was in Kansas only until today, when she is returning to North Carolina.
Despite the short visit, the Legion Riders didn't want to miss the opportunity to welcome Granger home and thank her for her service.
"You have three small children that are left behind and you are fighting for our country and we all thank you for that," said Mark Urbanek, ALR Post 81 director.
They presented Granger with a welcome home flag and a challenge coin. The Elks Lodge, which hosted the event during their bingo night, also presented Granger with a hat.
Granger has been in the military for 14 years, spending 3 1/2 months in Iraq, then another 3 1/2 months in Afghanistan before she returned home.
This was her third deployment.
Urbanek pointed out that during Granger’s time in Iraq she did base closures, which means bringing down every entity of a military site.
She said what she enjoys most about her service is "leading my Marines; my junior troops."
Granger, formerly Denissa Heath, is a 1996 graduate of El Dorado High School.
Staff Sgt. Denissa Granger thought she was going to the Elks Lodge for a singing event Thursday evening, but instead she was surprised with a welcome home by members of the American Legion Riders from Post 81.
Granger, a member of the Marine Corp, had just returned home last week from Afghanistan and was in Kansas only until today, when she is returning to North Carolina.
Despite the short visit, the Legion Riders didn't want to miss the opportunity to welcome Granger home and thank her for her service.
"You have three small children that are left behind and you are fighting for our country and we all thank you for that," said Mark Urbanek, ALR Post 81 director.
They presented Granger with a welcome home flag and a challenge coin. The Elks Lodge, which hosted the event during their bingo night, also presented Granger with a hat.
Granger has been in the military for 14 years, spending 3 1/2 months in Iraq, then another 3 1/2 months in Afghanistan before she returned home.
This was her third deployment.
Urbanek pointed out that during Granger’s time in Iraq she did base closures, which means bringing down every entity of a military site.
She said what she enjoys most about her service is "leading my Marines; my junior troops."
Granger, formerly Denissa Heath, is a 1996 graduate of El Dorado High School.
