Lt. Col. William Wallis was escorted to Evans with a motorcycle-riding veteran support group as students waved flags and cheered.
Repeated cheers of “Welcome Home” rang out at Evans Elementary School to kick off the Memorial Day weekend when students and others gathered in front of the school to surprise a member of the U.S. Air Force with a celebration in his honor.
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. William Wallis was escorted to the school alongside motorcycle-riding members of the Warriors’ Watch Riders veteran support group as those at the school waved American flags and screamed with support.
As with previous Memorial Day events at Evans, Wallis believed he was only going to the school on the Friday before Memorial Day to speak about his career and service to the nation.
Once again, the students and staff at Evans had slightly different plans.
Wallis is a master navigator on the C-130 military transport aircraft with more than 2,800 hours of flight experience, and he will reach 20 years of service with the Air Force this September. He’s been a part of nine combat deployments supporting Operations Southern Watch, Joint Forge, Joint Guard, Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Inherent Resolve, Freedom’s Sentinel and Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa.
He moved to New Jersey with his wife Jill and teenage son Derrick in 2014 and recently returned from his latest deployment in The Middle East.
Upon being greeted at Evans and presented with proclamations from politicians and other groups, Wallis thanked those gathered before him and described the celebration as overwhelming.
Wallis recalled other veterans he had met during his career, especially those from the Vietnam War, who did not receive similar welcome home events.
“I don’t consider myself a hero. I’ve deployed nine times, and every time that I’ve come back I’ve considered myself lucky … you count yourself lucky just to get back,” Wallis said.
Wallis went on to speak about what the Memorial Day holiday means to him.
“We’re celebrating and remembering the people that did not come back — the people that gave their lives so that we could be free and we could do things we want to do and be in a great country,” Wallis said.
Once again leading this surprise celebration was Dave Silver, chair of Operation Yellow Ribbon of South Jersey, which provides welcome home events to returning members of the armed services and care packages to those still serving overseas in the Middle East.
While many readied to spend their Memorial Day weekend at the beach or at a barbeque, Silver encouraged the students and crowd to remember the true purpose of the holiday.
“It’s about memorializing those who gave the greatest sacrifice so we could always stand here and be free and always stand here and gather to welcome home our heroes when they get back from protecting and providing our freedoms,” Silver said.
Evan’s Principal Nick DiBlasi also spoke to the students about the meaning of Memorial Day beyond food, fun and time off from school and work.
“It’s really about an opportunity to thank those who served and continue to serve today,” DiBlasi said.
