By Donna Thornton/News Editor
Sardis City is excited to be welcoming a hometown hero today (Nov. 16), as Corey Garmon comes home for the first time after being seriously injured in Afghanistan in July.
Since then Garmon has been in Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. After stepping on an improvised explosive device, Garmon lost both legs, and sustained injuries to his left arm and hand.
Since he was injured, he’s had the prayers of people in his community and beyond, as many have followed his condition through social and conventional media.
Corey’s father Chris Garmon said the current plan is for Corey to fly into Huntsville Friday morning (Nov. 16) , then head straight down U.S. 431 through Guntersville, Albertvill, and Boaz into Sardis City. Chris said law enforcement agencies in all the cities between Huntsville and Sardis City have been contacted and the Patriot Riders will provide an escort.
“They’ll lead him all the way,” Chris said. The entourage will make it’s way through the parking lot at Carlisle and Whitesboro elementary schools and stop briefly at Sardis High School, then continued to the Sardis City Senior Citizens Center on Parkway Drive for a welcome home celebration.
“There are so many people who’ve been praying for him,” Chris said.
For many of those people, Corey’s visits will give them a chance to meet a hero.
Whitesboro teacher Shannon Gage said her students have been working on posters and are very excited about today’s (Nov. 16) events. Gage said she’s pleased to see her students looking to a positive role model such as Garmon as their hero.
For the community, it’s a time to show their support for Corey and their gratitude for his service and sacrifice.
For the Garmons, it will be a chance to have their family together for a while, at home at last. Chris said his wife Lori has been in Maryland since Corey went to Walter Reed for treatment after his injury. “She’s been home for seven days since then,” Chris said, “I’ve been at home about a month.
“It’ll be the first time to have the whole family together, in one state, under one roof,” Chris said, since July. “We’ll be together for Thanksgiving and that’s what matters.”
Corey Garmon is a 2007 graduate of Sardis City High School, where he was the star quarterback for the Lions’ football team. He was on his first tour of duty as a Cavalry Scout in Afghanistan when he was injured. Both of Corey’s parents are employed by the Etowah County Board of Education, and he has two younger siblings, Kyle, 21, and Jordyn, 14. Corey recently proposed to his long-time girlfriend, Megan Forrester.