It was a night to remember.

First it was the waiting, the idle chatter in an airport lobby filled with people. Some were in uniform, some were family, some were friends. Some just wanted to welcome home a hero. Some were in tears already and Tomy Parker had yet to arrive.

The decorated Marine captured our hearts when news reached Lake County that one of their beloved own had lost two legs and most of a hand in an IED explosion in Afghanistan. Then we saw him on the mend, portrayed in newspapers across Northwestern Montana as a determined soldier with a life of big dreams yet to fulfill. We saw his family and his community stand behind him with encouraging words and prayers, schoolchildren sent letters, cards and even a blanket.

But here he was, the young man from Ronan was back on Montana soil for the first time in many long months. He proceeded through a packed room with smiles and a handshake for any admirer willing to step up and say "thank you."

An entourage of emergency response and law enforcement vehicles from Missoula and Frenchtown led the way into Evaro where Arlee, then Mission, Ronan, Pablo, and finally Polson crews swapped the lead. Even more cars and police officers joined the ranks as the procession passed their town or posted intersection. By the time the train reached Polson, it was rumored to be 203 vehicles long and there were fireworks raining from the sky. Well-wishers waited along the snowy streets the whole way up.

If there was ever a sight to see, it was the entire visible stretch of U.S. Highway 93 lit up like a string of Christmas lights as we drove past the National Bison Range and into St. Ignatius. The spectacle continued to wind its way through each town along the way, finally reaching its pinnacle in excitement and support in Ronan. Here the atmosphere was different then the rest because this really was Tomy's home. You could feel the anticipation grow as reports spread of the hero's whereabouts. A crowd of friends and family members lined the streets in front of Lucky Strike Lanes, his family's business. The cheers (and honking) must have been heard on the moon as the procession passed.

Yes, it was truly a night to remember — and remember we must. For Tomy Parker is an American hero. His body, his flesh, his blood were sacrificed for his country and it is his honor, his determination and his eventual success that feeds the spirit in us all.

Join Tomy's family and friends this Saturday for a spaghetti feed fundraiser at the Ronan Community Center. Live entertainment kicks off at 11 a.m. with auctions and presentations to follow all day long.