Sgt. Danny Gonzalez Returns Home
The Susquehanna Hose Company firefighter returned home to his wife and kids Monday after a year-long deployment in Afghanistan.
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He didn't make it to the front door.
Heck, he didn't even make it past the sidewalk.
Danny Gonzalez wrapped both his arms around his two children and his wife and held on for what seemed like eternity.
Because the wait to hug the ones he loved probably seemed twice that long.
His daughter, Serene, was the first to get to him. Then, Gonzalez snatched up his son, Daniel, and uttered: "I used to be able to pick you up."
See the video with this post.
After a year-long deployment, Sgt. Gonzalez returned to his family's home in the Bayview Estates neighborhood of Havre de Grace Monday night with some help from his brothers in the Susquehanna Hose Company.
Gonzalez—who read Patch while deployed, commenting on a video post when his son was named a student of the month and sharing photos from Afghanistan—spent about a month in Germany after a deployment in Afghanistan. He flew in to Philadelphia Monday morning, and landed at Baltimore-Washington International Airport at 6:44 p.m. Monday aboard a United Airlines flight.
Waiting for him in the terminal was a group of five fellow firefighters. Outside: his chariot, House 5's "Quint" truck.
After a quick stop at the firehouse to greet more Susquehanna Hose Company volunteers, Gonzalez was escorted through Bayview Estates by a pair of fire trucks, which crept up the hill of Goforth Drive with lights flashing and horns sounding.
At the Gonzalez House, friends and family stood waiting. They erupted into cheers and applause as the hero of the day emerged from the cab of the Quint truck.
See the video with this post.
TELL US: Do you know the Gonzalez family? Welcome Sgt. Gonzalez with a comment below.
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Editor's Note: Patch opted not to pester Gonzalez for an interview, instead, we moved aside for the local hero to get to his family.
In This article
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Susquehanna Hose Company — Division 5
1542 Chapel Rd, Havre de Grace, MD -
Havre de Grace City Hall
711 Pennington Ave, Havre de Grace, MD
Ed Grainger
6:54 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Welcome home brother firefighter Danny Gonzalez........House 5...awesome homecoming. It's why we do what we do.
Christin Shepard
7:37 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Awesome! It's wonderful to see good news posted. Thank you Danny Gonzalez for your sacrifice and thank you to your family too. I know how they felf becuase my husband was in Desert Storm and we missed him terribly. Thank you, thank you thank you.
diane denyer
8:27 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Welcome Home Sgt. Gonzalez and Thank You!!!
Karen green
9:45 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Thank you and your family for your contributions and your time given both at home and away. Above all else, WELCOME HOME!
vietnam vet
9:55 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Welcome Home !
Mandy Arroyo
11:01 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Glad you are finally home cousin! We are so proud of you. We miss you and hope to see u soon. Luv u guys!!
Mandy Arroyo
11:02 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
P.S. What a touching video :'-)
Diana Bandjough
12:04 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Don't know you, but WELCOME HOME and THANK YOU!!!
Melody Mesquias
1:05 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
SO GLAD YOU ARE HOME COUSIN! your family in Texas loves you and misses you so much! <3 Love u too Liz! and kids! <3
Ken Streb
2:06 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Welcome home Brother Firefighter. Enjoy Family & Friends. Thanks for the updates from the sand. We will all continue to Pray for you & your Family. Hopefully you will be home for good soon. But more inportantly, Thank you for your service .
Debbie McFadden
2:42 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Thank you for your service and Welcome Home to our community Bayview Estates.
Kathy Sevison
3:56 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Don't know you, but want to say THANK YOU AND WELCOME HOME! Have a wonderful 4th.
Roy Skrivanek
10:50 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Thank you for your service. Great story about the true meaning of brotherhood and family.
Steve S.
6:41 pm on Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Sgt. Danny Gonzalez, thank you sir for your service and welcome home.
Debbie
8:34 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012
Danny, have a great time with Liz and kids. You were very missed . Glad you are safe. Debbie w.
Claudia
5:16 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
This is the first time I've seen this...very touching...it brought a tear to my eye. What a wonderful homecoming for a fellow firefighter. Great job guys! As the wife of a Vietnam Veteran who is also a lifetime member of SHCO, I would like to say "Welcome Home" Sgt. Gonzalez, thank you for your service.
Lisa Thomas
8:30 am on Sunday, July 8, 2012
thank you... to you and your family for your service and patience for them. G
Vert thankful you made it back safe for your family and friends