A Hero's Homecoming

Last Saturday I had the privilege of covering the homecoming parade for Marine Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer in his hometown of Greensburg, Ky. I spent the day shooting for Getty Images and was thankful to be able to cover such a neat event alongside my good friends Leslye Davis and Daniel Houghton. The experience of the whole day was uniquely American in more ways than I can express.


Former active duty Marine Corps Corporal and Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer waves from atop a U.S. military humvee while leading the Cow Days Festival parade down Main Street on September 17, 2011 in his hometown of Greensburg, Ky. Meyer was awarded the Medal of Honor after saving the lives of 36 American and Afghan soldiers while serving with Marine Embedded Training Team 2-8, Regional Corps Advisory Command 3-7, September 8, 2009 during a firefight in Kunar Province, Afghanistan. Meyer is the first living Marine to receive the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War.  (Photo by Luke Sharrett/Getty Images)



Dakota Meyer walks with Kentucky law enforcement officers before leading the Cow Days Festival parade down Main Street on September 17, 2011 in his hometown of Greensburg, Ky.




A United States Marine Corps color guard waits to lead former active duty Marine Corps Corporal and Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer in the Cow Days Festival parade down Main Street in Greensburg, Ky.


Former active duty Marine Corps Corporal and Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer leads the parade from atop a humvee.




Instruments belonging to the Kentucky National Guard 202nd Army Band rest on the street following the Cow Days Festival parade in which former active duty Marine Corps Corporal and Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer was the grand marshall.


Four year-old Michael Lewis of Winchester, Ky. waves an American flag during the parade.




Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer disembarks the humvee on the parade route before taking the stage to be recognized by state and local officials.


Former active duty Marine Corps Corporal and Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer poses for a photograph with his next door neighbor Lewis Garrison (R) and Garrison's grandson Clint Garrison (L) during the Cow Days Festival on Main Street on September 17, 2011 in his hometown of Greensburg, Ky.


Meyer speaks with members of the news media.


A moment of reflection on stage during an awards ceremony.


Signs all over town bore messages of gratitude for Greensburg's son.


Meyer poses for one of hundreds of photos with local friends and supporters taken over the course of the afternoon.


An estimated 20,000 people turned out for the parade, packing out the sidewalks in the 2300 population town of Greensburg, Ky.

Thanks for looking!

**Photos copyright Luke Sharrett and Getty Images**

Posted by Luke S at 1:40 AM