Maricopa community welcomes home soldier

Maricopa community members greeted Army Spc. Chance Ramsay with cheers, hugs and smiles Saturday as he arrived home after a nine-month deployment to Afghanistan.

Ramsay, 20, graduated from Maricopa High School in 2011.

Saturday’s welcome home event at a park within the Rancho El Dorado neighborhood was organized by Blue Star Mothers of Maricopa. Members of the media were asked not to publicize details of the homecoming celebration prior to the event in order to surprise Ramsay.

Ramsay said he “kinda knew” something was up before he arrived.

“I didn’t know it was this big,” he said.

Local firefighters, members of the Maricopa Motorcycle Riders and Girl Scout troops were among the groups that came to welcome Ramsay home. Members of his family, including his mom, Lyn Hawkins, were also present at the celebration.

Hawkins met her son at Phoenix Sky Harbor airport when his plane landed Saturday afternoon. She later described the moment she first saw him.

“Hugged and hugged and hugged and hugged and hugged and hugged – and cried,” she said.

Community members held signs and cheered as Ramsay’s vehicle pulled into the Rancho El Dorado neighborhood entrance off State Route 347.

“It was pretty exciting,” he said. “I was really happy.”

When asked what activity he was looking forward to now that he was home, Ramsay replied: “Just eating some American food.”

Blue Star Mothers of Maricopa is part of a national organization that began during World War II to support mothers with children serving in conflicts. Maricopa’s group, which became official in November, is the only chapter in Pinal County.

Chapter president Tracy Davis said the group is always looking for mothers of active duty military men and women. For more information on the group, go to their website maricopabluestarmothers.com.