River Hills is a great place to live. River Hills is a gated community in Valrico, FL. It has some very nice amenities such as the River Hills Country Club that includes an Olympic size pool, clay tennis courts and a challenging 18 hole golf course. It has tree lines streets, and conservation areas galore.
It also has one other thing. An American Hero.
This afternoon I was driving to my home in River Hills. I entered the gate, slowing as my vehicle passed the bar scanner, causing the gate arm to slowly rise and allow me passage. As I drove down River Hills Causeway, the main drive, I came to a sign posted on a golf crossing sign.
Now that is unusual to see a sign in River Hills. After all signs are not allowed under any circumstance. Even real estate signs!! But, there they were for all residents to see. But, this sign was for one special person. Joe, military hero, coming home. I don't know Joe personally. But, I got to know something about Joe today. The next corner and the next sign.
River Hills is a community of about 2,500 homes or more I would guess. That may seem like a large neighborhood, but it is broken down into "Villages" and each village seems to take on its own personality. My trip to my village was taking me along the same street that would take Joe to his village. Now I don't really want to get into "It takes a Village" kind of conversation, but as I approached Joe's village this was the next sign.
Wow, Joe is really some kind of guy. A real today type of hero, living right here in my community. And Joe sure had a great deal of respect from his children. What must it have been like for this family as this day was getting closer to arrival? How much excitement was being generated as these signs were being prepared? One last sign awaited on my path. This sign would lead into Joe's village. I could drive straight and proceed to the village of my home, but I could not pass up the chance to turn toward Joe's home.
This was the sign at the entrance to Joe's village:
I drove down the street that I knew would lead me to Joe's house. As was customary in River Hills each yard was manicured with deep green lawns and landscaping ready for Home and Gardens. But there was something different today on Joe's street. The neighbors on Joe's street had joined the welcome committee. Many of the homes adorned the American flag from their house in honor of their neighbor hero. The afternoon wind that is common this of year was gently waving the flag as to say "Welcome home American hero Joe." I could see Joe's home as I approached. American flags were everywhere. In the yard, on the door, on the shrubbery ... everywhere.
This is Where Joe Lives
Home of the Brave!
reprinted from Florida's Beautiful Homes Blog
