BY DERRICK PERKINS

Town officials honored the return of the son of one of their own from Afghanistan last week with a highway overpass flag display and motorcycle escort from the airport.

Thomas Russell, the son of the Director of Public Works Rick Russell, was welcomed back to Salem last Tuesday after a 15- month tour of duty overseas with the 70th Engineer Battalion of the 1st Armored Division to overjoyed family and friends.

“Thank God he’s home in one piece,” his father said. “It’s extremely tough on the soldiers but tough on the family, too.”

Rick Russell’s co-workers at the Department of Public Works turned out in force to honor his son’s service, parking DPW vehicles along the I-93 Brookdale Road overpass – including two front bucket loaders adorned in American flags – and waving flags themselves as the convoy of motorcycles escorting the returning soldier to his home in Salem passed underneath.

Local town hall employees, firefighters and police officers made up the motorcycle brigade escorting the army specialist coming back from the Manchester airport.

“We came out to support Rick’s son,” said Joe Feole of the DPW. “He went there and served his country. The least we can do is support him.”

Feole was joined on the overpass by about 20 fellow town employees, some with the Water Department and others in the Highway Department, in welcoming back the 21-year-old soldier.

Pam Russell, who spent 14 years with the Salem Fire Department and is currently employed by the Building Department, appreciated the celebration surrounding her son’s homecoming.

“All of these people have seen Thomas grow up,” she said. “It’s nice to have a big joyous parade today.”

Surrounded by friends and family in the backyard of his family’s Salem residence, Thomas Russell called the celebration of his return “one hell of a welcome home.”

“There’s nothing like coming back to this town,” he said. “The amount of respect that these people give the soldiers is awesome.”

Attached to the 82nd Airborne Division, Russell and his fellow soldiers – nicknamed the “Nomads” for living on their own in what he described as “the middle of nowhere” – were tasked with route clearance, driving up and down the roads of Afghanistan searching for improvised explosive devices and removing them. Russell found 21 IEDs himself, earning him the Army Commendation Medal with Valor and the Army Achievement Medal.

While Russell survived one near miss that left his army vehicle badly damaged and a three-month tour of duty extension while serving overseas, he has already re-enlisted and is planning to rejoin his unit after a 30- day leave from military life.

“It’s overwhelming,” said Russell, who plans to take several road trips, as well as sky dive during his time on leave. “Salem is one heck of a spot to take a vacation.”