SUBMITTED BY LAURA SCHROEDER

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Since Scott’s injuries on Dec. 10, 2010, so many people have stepped forward to help us through the ordeal of the trauma and all that comes with it.   No one ever expects to have your number pulled, that tends to happen to the “other” guy.  But our number was pulled, and we couldn’t have successfully pulled through this without all of you out there.  We want to publicly thank the following for all that has been done on our behalf over the last eighteen months.  Much gratitude to…

… our Amazon women; Karen Buldoc, Kim Hawkins, and Joanna Brown, for covering the bases here in Clarksville and at home so Laura could focus on what lay ahead.
… Hawkins Partners, Inc for guaranteeing that Laura’s job would remain when it was time to come back.
… Clarksville High School who went above and beyond the call of duty to secure an easy transition for our son while we were gone and when he came back.
… 5th Special Forces Group, Dean Brown, John Gleason, John Alberstadt, CHS Football team, and CHS Dance team for many hours spent tending to the house and yard chores as the growing season came upon us.
… 5th Special Forces Group and Robert Ferguson for building a ramp into the house and widening the doorways so that Scott's wheelchair could move through. 
…American Constructors, Inc. and Clarksville Firefighters for helping to complete our long lived bathroom renovation.
…Ray Porter and Charles Neal who ran the 2011 Boston Marathon to raise funds;  VFW 4730 in Dover, Tenn., for raffling a custom rifle on Scott’s behalf;  SF Brotherhood for a fundraising poker run; CHS Civitan Club for selling wristbands for Scott;  and the Special Forces Association Chapter 38 for stepping forward as well as the Green Beret Foundation.

The Welcome Home celebration that took place Sunday, July 22, 2012, came together through the planning efforts of dear friends.  We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you that made the day so wonderful! 

To our planning committee for having the vision and making it happen Joanna, Dean, Austin, and Autumn Brown; John, Rae, Jessica, and Courtney Gleason; John, Linda, Grant, and Allie Alberstadt; and Mark and Jane Weakley;
To our County and City Mayors; Carolyn Bowers and Kim McMillan for the Proclamation and tribute;
To Beachaven Winery for hosting us and allowing this entire thing to happen;
To Queen City Restaurant Equipment and Mark Weakley for cooking the fabulous BBQ;
To Budweiser of Clarksville, ReMax Executives, Bill Mace of Bill Mace Homes, and Heritage Bank for donating beer, water, and sodas;
To Scott Bryant for being a wonderful MC;
To the Mike Bryant Band and the CHS Dance team for entertaining us;
To the CHS Football team for directing all the parking, setting up and cleaning up the event;
To Hemlock Semiconductors and their commitment to community and their team of volunteers,
And last, but certainly not least, our AWESOME escorts; the Patriot Riders, SF Brotherhood bike club, and Clarksville Police Department for engulfing this hero and ensuring a safe ride into the winery;
There are more we are sure that we are missing, and if we have, we are truly sorry.  But know that all your love, commitment, efforts, and hard work have not gone unnoticed or unappreciated!

Sunday was definitely a day to remember!!  I told Scott long ago that only time will heal what has happened.  I think I got that only partly right…  It’s not only time, but it is also the love and support of family, friends, and community that everyone has shown that helps the physical and emotional wounds heal.  Once that healing begins, the “tomorrows” aren’t so daunting and overwhelming.  Scott continues to rehabilitate and has more surgeries on his horizon, but being home makes that seem so much more tolerable.  Dorothy had that right… “there is no place like home!”

THANK YOU AGAIN FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR US AND CONTINUE TO DO!! 
Scott, Laura, and Zach Schroeder.



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