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A Soldier Comes Home and Cherokee County Turns Out

November 5, 2019

Matt and Jessie Loudin with their fur baby, Cody.

When Matt Loudin headed to Woodstock on a recent Sunday afternoon, he thought he was going to enjoy a quiet reunion with family and friends. His mother had other plans.

Loudin, a 1st lieutenant with the Georgia Army National Guard, had just completed a nine-month deployment in Afghanistan with the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. His mom made a simple request on social media, asking friends and neighbors to line their neighborhood streets to welcome him home. The request went viral. The post was shared on several neighborhood Facebook pages, the Next Door app, Twitter and by several news outlets.

Woodstock responded by lining Towne Lake and Wyngate parkways, where proud citizens waved American flags, held signs and chanted “Matthew.” Hundreds of people turned out, including Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, members of the Etowah Junior Eagles football team, families and supporters from as far away as Jasper, Georgia.

Loudin and his wife Jessie were escorted by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department from I-575 to the Wyngate subdivision, where Matt and Jessie grew up. They are graduates of Etowah High School. Matt graduated from Shorter University with a criminal justice degree, and Jessie has a finance degree from Kennesaw State University.

When asked what he thought about the turnout, Loudin said, “I don’t feel like I deserve this at all, but it was such a great homecoming. I really appreciate everyone that came out to support me.”

A short video of Loudin’s homecoming can be viewed on the 11Alive News website at http://bit.ly/32h8O9DLoudin.

Cherokee County provided a police escort for the Loudins in the red jeep. Photo courtesy of J King Images.
Loudin was surprised and grateful for the turnout. Photo courtesy of J King Images.
A BridgeMill veteran shows his respect. Photo courtesy of J King Images.
Community members welcoming Loudin home. Photo courtesy of J King Images.
Community members, of all ages, were excited to welcome Loudin home. Photo courtesy of J King Images.
Loudin’s mom, Jackie, could not have been happier to have her son home. Photo courtesy of J King Images.
Students and players from the Etowah Junior Eagles lined up on Towne Lake Parkway.
Members of the community brought signs to show their support.
From left, Wyngate residents Lars, Penny, Lukas and Wyatt Nordin enjoyed participating as a family. Photo courtesy of J King Images.
Local Boy Scouts pose with the soldier. Photo courtesy of J King Images.

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