When 1st Lt. Nick Andrychowski returned home recently from a second tour of duty overseas, he received a welcome unlike any other.
The 30-year-old Army officer arrived at late at night, and got to his family's home on Hillside Avenue in Enfield around midnight.
"Mrs. (Cynthia) Johnston said to call no matter how late it was, and she was outside waving when we pulled in," Andrychowski said.
Also waving were dozens of American flags of all sizes. Hillside Avenue contains 19 houses, and every single home on the street, even those owned by people who barely know Andrychowski, had at least one American flag prominently displayed.
Some had a series small flags at the edges of their lawns, while others had large flags across their doors or hanging from flag mounts.
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"The neighbors all got together on the idea of Cynthia Johnston, and they all decided to honor Nick's return from his yearlong deployment in Afghanistan," said Andrychowski's mother, Debbie. "It was a lot of time and effort on her part."
Johnston's husband, Jay, had served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam era.
Nick Andrychowski, who had previously spent a year in Iraq, said he was overwhelmed by the show of patriotism and respect on the part of his neighbors.
"It was an amazing experience, and I'm proud of my neighbors for doing that," he said.
He said his dad, Joe, "took good care" of his truck while he was away, and plans to drive it back to his base at Ft. Carson, CO beginning on Independence Day.
