Community Corner

Matthew Shea: Coming Home

Join us as we welcome home a local soldier.

Moodus resident and Army Spc. Matt Shea, son of Michele and Ricky Shea, will be returning home from a one-year tour in Afghanistan on Thursday. Patch, along with the town of East Haddam, is joining forces with Shea's family to help get the word out to gather as many people as we can to line the streets and welcome our soldier home.

Shea will be picked up by family and will be driven through Moodus center around 5:15-5:45 Thursday evening. Interested supporters are being asked to gather around the Moodus Post Office and the grist mill area.

A police escort will lead Shea through Moodus, turn left to pass the Moodus Green and head down to the old Middle School where First Selectman Mark Walter will make a proclamation welcoming him home.

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Walter is in the process of reaching out to local civic organizations and asking them to help take part in the welcome.

Shea enlisted for 8 years in the U.S. Army right after graduating from Nathan Hale-Ray High School in 2009.

Find out what's happening in The Haddams-Killingworthwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Upon hearing of another local community welcoming a soldier home Shea said "no one will ever do that for me," according to his mother, Michele Shea.

"It just broke my heart," she says.

Help us help Shea's family make Matthew's homecoming a special event. Please pass the word along.

Flags and signs are encouraged. 


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