Jay Conti Sr.
American Legion
4th District Vice Commander

On Dec. 23, another Hero’s welcome was held at the Floral City VFW Post 7122.

Local Veterans showed up to welcome back Capt. Jamie Tyson home from the ongoing fight on the Global War on Terrorism.

A well-deserved Hero's Welcome was observed for this brave young man who recently returned home from a long tour of duty in the Afghanistan Theater of Operations.

It was more than an all-family and friends gathering as Capt. Jamie Tyson was honored by numerous Veterans from VFW Post/Unit 4337 & 7122, American Legion Post/Unit 155 & 225, Fleet Reserve Association Branch/Unit 186, US Submariners Association, Citrus 40/8 Voiture/Cabane 1219, American Legion Riders Chapter 155 and Citrus County Veterans Coalition for a VFW Post 7122 sponsored chicken wing dinner in his honor as another Citrus County Hero was welcomed home.

More than 100 members of the community came to VFW Post 7122 for this Hero's welcome as Citrus County Heroes Committee of Barbara Mills, Jay Conti Sr. along with the above Veterans Organizations welcomed home Capt. Jamie Tyson with a Citrus County Heroes welcome home basket full of gifts that were donated by Citrus County merchants, veterans organizations and the Citrus County community. During the welcome home celebration, American Legion Post 155 1st Vice Commander Jay Conti Sr. awarded the Tyson with the official American Legion “Thank You for Serving” Challenge Coin, and Bob Huscher from the Fleet Reserve Association Branch 186 awarded him with a gift certificate to Wal-Mart.

Capt. Jamie Tyson joined the US Marine Corps in 1991 and has been serving our great country for 18 straight years. He has been previously deployed to Iraq, Cuba and this is his third tour in Afghanistan. Capt. Tyson is a Company Commander for his unit, which is stationed in Camp Le Jeune, SC. Capt. Jamie Tyson is a highly decorated soldier, earning numerous Medals, Decorations and Awards.

This Welcome Home a Hero Project is funded fully by donations and wouldn’t of been possible if it weren’t for the generosity of the Citrus County Merchants, The American Legion, VFW, Fleet Reserve Association and other Veteran Organizations donating items or funds to fill these welcome home baskets. If you, your community, store or Veterans organization would like help the Citrus County Heroes Welcome Home Baskets program for our local Veterans to continue for 2009 and beyond or help out in anyway please call Mrs. Barbara Mills at 352-422-6236 or visit our web site www.CitrusCountyHeroes.org. You can also send a donation to: Barbara Mills, PO BOX 1046, Inverness, FL 34451-1046; Make checks payable to VFW Woman’s Auxiliary 4337.