Church surprises soldier on his return from Iraq

Area church surprises soldier on his return from Iraq
By Matthew Ciccocioppo
Sentinel Reporter
Posted: Sunday, May 6, 2012

The congregation of St. Matthew’s United Church of Christ in Middlesex Township rallied together in support of a resident soldier’s return from Iraq Sunday morning.

Following their usual Sunday service, members of the church gathered in the Fellowship Hall to offer a warm welcome-home surprise reception for Lt. Col. Vince Lindenmeyer.

“There really is no way to describe the joy the congregation feels in Vince’s safe return,” said the Rev. Dr. Timothy Dugan of St. Matthew’s. “We’ve been praying for this, and we absolutely thank god with our whole hearts. But as a church we are also in touch with the fact that for some families, not just on this side of the pond, grief is what darkens their doors.”

Lindenmeyer returned home on Thursday from a 10-month-long tour of duty in Iraq to his wife, the Rev. Dr Cynthia Lindenmeyer, and their two children, Carley, 12, and Luke, 8.
read more here