Local hero gets warm welcome from Minooka

Sgt. 1st Class Lane Lucado of Minooka has spent a good part of the past 26 years going off to other places in defense of our country. He has had five deployments in just the past eight years, the most recent a year in Afghanistan from where he just returned in September.

Several weeks back, Lucado was picked up from his Minooka home by the Patriot Riders, a motorcycle group/organization that supports those who risk their lives for America's freedom and security. A group of at least 30 riders, along with an escort from both the Minooka police department and Minooka Fire Protection District, rode him to Ace Hardware in Minooka to be greeted by other veterans and the community.

Lucado's wife, Patty, had made the initial contacts to get the ball rolling. It was not something that he had expected at all, Lucado said.

Thinking of those 30 motorcycles all roaring down the road for one purpose, to thank Lane Lucado for his service, gives me goose bumps.

My brother Doug was a Harley Rider for many years. At his funeral three years ago, all his friends gathered together and escorted Doug's son Brandon to the funeral home on their Harleys. When all those bikes rode up together, it took your breath away and the camaraderie coming from them was unbelievable.

So even though I missed Lucado's run--and I wish I'd had been there to see it--I can imagine how he must have felt and how proud he was.

Minooka Village President Pat Brennan was invited to attend the homecoming celebration and asked to say a few words. Brennan was more than happy to be a part of honoring Lucado.

Brennan then asked Lucado to attend a village board meeting; he wanted to recognize him even further for all he's done for America, he said. At the board meeting Lucado was presented with a certificate of appreciation for his many years of service. Brennan introduced him saying, "This man is a true hero."

Lucado's first deployment was just six months after he and Patty were married. He was sent to Honduras. Patty said she didn't even realize he was sent on a conflict mission at the time.

Over the years, Lucado has had missions in Germany, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Afghanistan. As a member of the Army National Guard, his missions were different each time he was deployed.

In Iraq, he was a military policeman at a prison. It was his hardest mission, he said, because he was on duty 24/7 with no time off.

In contrast, he was part of an emergency task force in Afghanistan that helped to rebuild and provide supplies wherever they were needed. If a school needed desks, they found them. If a bathroom or building needed constructing, they found and organized the people to do it and the materials to build it. He enjoyed being able to visit schools, hospitals and refugees.

His favorite deployment was in Germany after Sept. 11 when he was sent to secure radar sites and nuclear plants.

But with each mission, Lucado was away from home, many times a year at a stretch. It was hard for Patty, too, she said. Many times she felt like a single parent. When the kids were small, she worried. When they got older, they worried, too.

Lucado will retire from the Army National Guard in June of 2010. It's time to give his family a break and stay at home, he said. He's looking forward to spending time with his wife, two daughters and two grandchildren.

While he may miss the excitement of the Army National Guard, he is happy to be back home in Minooka. Patty echoed his sentiment, saying, "We are just going to try to grow old together."

Kris Stadalsky writes about people and issues in the Channahon/Minooka area and towns southwest of Joliet. E-mail ideas to her at writestuff@cbcast.com.