Kids & Family

Marine Receives Welcome Home Honor

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Christopher Bastida was 'certainly surprised' by Saturday ceremony.

graduate Sgt. Christopher Bastida got a welcome home he never expected Saturday morning.

Local military support group Operation Welcome You Home threw a surprise parade and homecoming ceremony outside the family’s Boulder Hill home complete with numerous presentations from various veterans groups from around the area. Oswego Village President Brian LeClercq also was on hand for the ceremony.

Residents along Boulder Hill Pass watched as a convoy of police vehicles and motorcycles made its way to the Bastida home. Fans taking in a ball game at Boulder Hill School even stood and paid their respects. 

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Bastida has served in the U.S. Marine Corps since 2007 and was first deployed to Afghanistan in late 2009. He was sent for another tour of duty in the country in September 2011. Currently Bastida is stationed at Camp LeJune N.C. awaiting additional training and assignment.

“I’m not good with speeches,” Bastida said after the ceremony. “Thank you for all your support. Not many of the guys I’ve worked with get to have this kind of honor when they get home.”

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Bastida was also presented with two boxes of Girl Scout cookies, which he said are much appreciated in combat.

“These taste even better when you’re over there,” he said with a smile.

Bastida was joined by his parents Mario and Linda Bastida, his brother, Michael, and sister, Lauren. 


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