A Patriot Returns Home
U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Brett Populorum welcomed back to New Lenox with surprise celebration
by Laura Michaels

Bravery runs in the Populorum family of New Lenox. One need only look to 20-year-old U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Brett Populorum to see proof of this bravery.

Populorum returned to New Lenox Saturday, May 31 after a seven month tour of duty in Iraq, and was welcomed home not only by his family, but by more than 100 friends, veterans and Patriot Guard Riders.

"Wow. That's all I can say. Wow," Brett said after arriving at the Kmart parking lot on U.S. 30. "I didn't know it was going to be like this."

Like her son, Pam Populorum isn't afraid to do what is necessary to help others. She, along with sister Kathy Claxton, were awarded Citizen Heroism Awards last month for saving the lives of two men and a dog from a fire that ultimately destroyed the Haven Motel at the corner of Cedar Road and U.S. 6.

Pam said she told her son about the fire and subsequent award right away, and even sent him the Internet links to the news stories so he could read about his mom and aunt.

"Oh it absolutely does," said Pam of bravery running in her family. But she credited her son with being the true hero, and said even though she wasn't happy about his decision to join the Marines right after high school, she fully supports his choice.

"I wasn't happy, but I think it was a decision he was positive he wanted to make," Pam said. Brett's father Dennis agreed, and said though he was "very surprised," Brett's decision kind of made sense because he was close to joining the Marines himself.

"I think he had the same mind set I did," Dennis said. "If I'm gonna go, I'm gonna go with the toughest one there is."

Brett spent the past seven months in Fallujah, Iraq, where he lived with the people in the city and ran security patrols. He said his Marine training prepared him for all that he faced, and added the program is "probably the hardest branch of the military."

"It's getting a lot better," Brett said of the prevalence of violence in Iraq. "We're making headway."

Now that he's home for two weeks, the Lincoln-Way Central graduate said he just plans to hang out with his family, which includes brothers Brad, Mitchell and Jake, and friends. When his leave is up Brett will head to California for more training and likely another tour overseas. Brett said it was patriotism that caused him to join the Marines in the first place, and should he be sent back to Iraq or Afghanistan, he'll simply do his duty.

"I did it once and I'll do it again."

His parents, however, are a bit more uneasy.

"That hurts my heart," Pam said of the idea her son might have to return to Iraq.

"I think about it all the time," Dennis added.

In the midst of the handshakes and hugs that followed Brett's escort down U.S. 30 to his reception at the Frankfort Township Building, Pam said again and again how grateful she and her family are for the support the community has given them. "Words really can't express our appreciation. It's overwhelming.

"This shows how everyone can come together for a good reason."

"He knows he's definitely loved today," Dennis said.

Patriot Guard Riders gather at Kmart in New Lenox to welcome home Lance Cpl. Brett Populorum, who is on a two-week leave after serving in Iraq for seven months.
photo: Laura Michaels.
June 04, 2008

Freedom Riders stand with American flags as they prepare to welcome home U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Brett Populorum. photo: Laura Michaels.

Article and photos courtesy of The New Lenox Patriot.