Family, Friends Welcome Home Army Sgt. Gerry O'Sullivan

Army Sgt. Gerry O'Sullivan served 11 months in Afghanistan, and then was welcomed home to Grayslake Aug. 5 by family, friends and co-workers from the Grayslake Fire Department.

The welcome-home celebration for Army Sgt. Gerry O'Sullivan began early on Aug. 5 at O'Hare International Airport. It included a brief parade through Grayslake with fire truck escorts for the member of the Grayslake Fire Department.

O'Sullivan's father-in-law, Scott Burgett, serves as a part-time paid-on-call firefighter at the Grayslake Fire Department.

"It is nice to see him back and in good health and in good shape," Burgett said at O'Sullivan's home. "It is nice to have him home in good shape."

He said that is what he worried about, that something would happen to his son-in-law while he was in Afghanistan. He also worried about his daughter, Becky Burgett, and the couple's young children, Miles and Maddie. Having a parent deployed, Burgett said, can be stressful.

"It is a big relief for everyone to have him home, and home safe," Burgett said.

Family friend Karin Weidman was thrilled to see the O'Sullivan family together again.

"They are a wonderful family," Weidman said. "We are glad to see Gerry back."

For the guys on the Grayslake Fire Department, they too feel like they have a "family" member who returned from overseas. 

"All of the members are excited to have Gerry back," said Deputy Chief Greg Formica. "We are happy for Gerry’s safe return and look forward to his return to serving our community."

He said O'Sullivan exemplifies community service.

"Gerry is a fine example of how much an individual can serve their fellow citizens," Formica said. "Gerry is truly dedicated to serving and protecting others."

The amount of support O'Sullivan received in his first few hours at home meant the world to him.

"I know that as we serve our country," O'Sullivan said, "we could not do what we do without the support of family and friends back home."

• Read more about how it feels to be back home.
• See more photos in Gerry O'Sullivan, home again.