Oklahoma Veteran Granted Special Homecoming For Thanksgiving

Jacqueline Sit, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- We're a month away from Christmas but that day of giving comes early for one family.

The men and women who respond to our emergencies everyday gave that family something to be especially thankful for today.

An Oklahoma City woman thought she wouldn't get to see her 90-year-old father since he got so sick and ended up in the VA center, but on this Thanksgiving Day, it seems as if Christmas came a little early.

When EMSA showed up to one Oklahoma City home, there was no emergency but a special delivery that one family couldn't refuse. On this Thanksgiving Day, they're taking a World War II Veteran home for the holiday.

"We just jumped at the chance, how can you pass something like that down," Kathy Sylvester said.

Kathy Sylvester normally spends every holiday with her father, but when 90-year-old Frank Harris had a stroke in the summer, his health was ailing and there was little chance she'd get to see him on this Thanksgiving Day.

"We've always had Thanksgiving, Christmas," she said. "He's always been with us and it was going to be a really tough holiday.

Frank Harris served in the Army as a paratrooper and fought in the Battle of Bastogne and his unit was relieved by General Patton.

"We're very lucky. A lot of the men didn't make it out of that war and out of that battle. He's very proud of his service and we're very proud of him," Sylvester said.

An honor the paramedics say they're thankful for.

"He was willing to put his life on the line for us in a small, small contribution in what we can do to possibly bring him to his family for possibly his last Thanksgiving. To have it here in the home and in the natural environment rather than a nursing home," one said.

"To come out here and load him up and bring him back to his house, his family to be in his comfort zone, is nothing short of an honor for us," another said.

It's a way to say thank you for a veteran whose now home for the holidays, even if just for a few hours.

Harris has quite a few stories. and he also went into Hitlers summer home during his service. He wasn't feeling too well to talk on camera but says he is very happy to be home for the holidays.

The medics have been taking veterans home for Thanksgiving dinner for eight years.