By SAMANTHA SARACINO
6 News Reporter
VONORE (WATE) - Lance Cpl. Kyle Day, of Madisonville, is returning home Friday after he spent the last seven months stationed in Afghanistan.
Lance Cpl. Day's grandparents, Ginger and Jess Day, are anxiously awaiting their grandson's arrival.
"It was difficult to see him go because we raised him from a little pup," his grandmother said. "He's always been with us and then all of a sudden, he's grown up and going to war. We always fought for him, but now he's going to war to fight for us."
The Patriot Guard Riders are escorting Lance Cpl. Day from Vonore to Madisonville, something they say they're happy to do.
In Afghanistan, Lance Cpl. Day served on the police advisory team.
Monroe County is home to numerous soldiers and community members are grateful one of their own is back.
"We're really proud of all the soldiers," Jim and Gloria Bivens said. "Our grandson is a Marine. He's getting out of there in September, and we're proud of all of them."
The road hasn't been easy, but Day's grandparents look forward to having him back in their lives. "I'm going to feed him and just be so grateful that he's there and watch him enjoy himself," his grandmother said.
Day was good friends with late Lance Cpl. Frankie Watson. The two joined the military together. Watson was killed in Afghanistan in September 2011.
Lance Cpl. Kyle Day (source: family)
