Walpole Marine Gets Surprise Send-Off

When Shanna Boyden Ueda got ready for her day Saturday morning, she thought she was going to be spending it at baby shower.

Instead, the Walpole Marine, who will be deployed to Afghanistan next month, walked out her front door to see a WWII-era Jeep waiting for her.

The Jeep - along with a caravan of fellow service members, family and friends - escorted her and her husband Josh in a parade from her home in East Walpole to the Veteran's Memorial Statue in the center of town.

Along the way there were well-wishers and people waving American flags and banners in support of Shanna.

“There was a Jack and Jill baby shower [Saturday] that we were supposed to go to and that’s what she thought we were doing, so when the whole entourage of vehicles showed up in front of our house I said, ‘Okay it’s time to go for the ride of your life,”’ Shanna's mom Joanne Boyden said.

When they arrived at the memorial Shanna was greeted by dozens of well-wishers who were there to see her off.

“It’s unbelievable. I don’t even know half of these people and they’re here and it’s awesome,” LCpl Ueda said. “A lot’s going through my head right now. I’m just surprised, I’m excited, I have a lot emotions right now but, I thank my Mom for this a lot.”

What was originally planned as a backyard barbecue by her mother turned into a send-off Shanna may never forget with the help of A Hero's Welcome, a non-profit group that helps plan ceremonies for soldiers being deployed or coming home from service overseas.

Along with family, friends, service members, retired military members and supporters was Gail Huff, wife of U.S. Senator Scott Brown, who spoke during the ceremony.

“As the mother of two daughters I want to say thank you,” said Huff. “I can’t even imagine the feeling of saying goodbye to your daughter who is heading over to serve her country. But from your United States Senator and from our family I would just like to say thank you.”

Huff presented the Boyden family with an American flag on behalf of Senator Brown.

“We would like to present it to the family and may it be raised over your house and fly until Shanna comes home safely,” Huff said.

During the ceremony members of A Hero's Welcome also recognized several current and former service members from Walpole with a certificate.

“I think it went really well. You couldn’t ask for a better day, it’s beautiful, it’s sunny, I was glad that she’s not going to kill me,” Joanne said jokingly. “I was grateful that we had a nice turnout.”

After the ceremony Joanne, a former Army specialist, spoke about how she was nervous about her daughter heading to Afghanistan in a month's time but very proud of her for choosing to do so.

“That I’m trying to not think about right now because I have so much going on and I’m just trying to keep a positive thought right now and I know that in a month my time will come. But it will be very sad,” Joanne said.

“All I can say is just, you know, I wish her a lot of luck and Godspeed, a lot of praise for her and it’s really what she wanted to do so, I mean, I support her. I am nervous, I’m worried about her going over there but this is what she wanted to do, she signed up to go over there,” she said.

After the ceremony Shanna and her family invited those in attendance to go to the Walpole VFW to continue the celebration.

“It’s awesome what my Mom did for me,” Shanna said with a smile.