It Was A Special Day For One Soldier Who Returned Home From Iraq
TRAVERSE CITY -- It was a special day for one soldier who returned home to Traverse City from Iraq.
Laurel Benghauser was only 17 when she told her parents she wanted to join the Army. Now at 24, she says it was the best decision she's ever made.
Laurel Benghauser says walking onto the pitcher's mound at Wuerfel Park, in front of a cheering crowd, was scary.
That's coming from a 24-year-old who just came home from Iraq two weeks ago.
"Going to Iraq and seeing how people, you know, their lifestyle is just unthinkable," said Laurel Benghauser. "Half the time, what they do every day to survive and we take all of that for granted."
The Beach Bums and screaming fans welcomed the Army soldier, along with her parents, sister and friends. Benghauser says she missed her home, but mainly, she missed her family.
"I realized after my daughter has been in the military I go out of my way to thank anyone I see in uniform for what they're doing. It's given me a whole new perspective," said Laurel's mother Bensie Benghauser.
Laurel Benghauser is leaving again in the morning after only 15 days in Traverse City. Her next assignment is Border Patrol in California for a year.
"California is now like my backyard compared to Iraq. California is very accessible,"said Bensie Benghauser.
While Benghauser was in Iraq she -- along with her friends -- looked forward to care packages sent every month for a year by touching hearts -- a group from the church of living god in traverse city.
"When we found out she was going she would definitely be on our list of someone we'd want to reach out to and laurel had a couple of friends -- three friends that needed a little bit of love from home and so we just started sending them," said Touching Hearts Founder Marilyn Dear.
The group sends between 20 and 30 packages every month with food and anything that reminds the soldiers far away from home that they are not forgotten. As a thank you, Benghauser raised a flag in honor of touching hearts and gave the group a plaque.
Benghauser says she felt welcomed and thankful to be honored in her hometown. The Beach Bums even signed a baseball for her.
The Church of Living God and the Touching Hearts group are always accepting donations to fill the boxes every month. They send them out every Tuesday.
For more details on the Church of Living God CLICK HERE.
