The Patriot Guard Riders along with the local police and fire departments escorted Capt. Richard Plettau from O'Hare Airport to Algonquin Commons. Friends, family, neighbors and classmates were there to greet him.
Plettau joined the U.S. Army in 2008 after graduating from Northern Illinois University. He spent the last year serving in Iraq.
There was another big celebration in west suburban Lombard as Sgt. Anthony Federici returned home. The Willowbrook High School graduate has served two tours in Afghanistan.
On Saturday, the group Operation Welcome You Home Illinois greeted Federici with lots of hugs and thanks for his service. Then the group escorted him to a party in his honor.
Federici was surprised by it all. He thought he was going to go play golf.
