Marine Lance Cpl. Brock McChesney anticipated seeing his mother, then heading out for a hunting trip to Kansas. But first he was ambushed by friends, relatives, and other well-wishers at the Days Inn on Dec. 12.

Members of the Wellington Auxiliary displayed the nation’s colors, led those assembled in the Pledge of Allegiance, and then ushered McChesney to a reception area where he endured praise from other military veterans, a former school teacher and Wellington’s mayor, Larry Noel, who labeled him a hero for his two tours of duty: one in Iraq and most recently in the Helmand River Valley in Afghanistan.

Although McChesney attended school in Fort Collins, his mother, Paige Flannigan, has lived in Wellington for six years and currently is employed by Days Inn. Flannigan said she was “honored that so many people acknowledged what my son was doing.” Specifically, McChesney’s duties included standing post and patrolling, denying enemy movement and uncovering IEDs — improvised explosive devices. During his time of service three members of his unit lost their lives.

If McChesney doesn’t opt for another tour of duty, he hopes to attend a gunsmithing school in Denver.

About the day’s event, he said, “It means a lot to me that people care.” However, he also added, “I’m not the real hero. The people who didn’t make it home are the real heroes.”