More than a dozen people waited Tuesday morning near the Putnam Lake Firehouse for Mike Cairney to return home from his service in the US Army.
"I'm just so excited," said Katie Cairney, one of his siblings. Mike is the youngest of five, and the 26-year-old is a Brewster High School alum.
Family members, friends and supporters initially planned a large homecoming, with an escort by the Minutemen Riders, a group of motorcycle riders who fly flags to welcome returning veterans. But Mike preferred a low-key gathering.
"He's modest Mike," family friend Lisa Moore said as the group waited to hear if Mike had left the airport yet. His flight was a bit delayed and his luggage was lost.
Mike's father, Scotty Cairney, said his son is looking forward to coming home and getting back to his "normal life." He's got a job in construction lined up, and is exploring career options, like becoming a firefighter.
Scotty Cairney said after three-and-a-half years of service—from Alaska to Afghanistan and back to Alaska—some celebration will be in order.
"It's a small town and he's a big part of it," Katie Cairney said of her brother.
Rob Gallacher, a Connecticut resident who teaches at BHS, knows the Cairney family well. He was there Tuesday morning with a member of the school's Semper-Fi Club, which sent packages to Mike when he was serving.
"We wanted him to be as comfortable as he could be," Gallacher said, adding that the Cairneys are a great family.
Editor's note: This story was originally published at 11:15 a.m. June 25.
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