Welcome Home for Mokena Sailor Held at Dad's Pizza Parlor

Seaman Tim Kaplan, 25, arrived home in royal fashion after serving a seven-year stint as a Navy corpsman, the bulk of which was served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Kaplan, who completed two tours of duty overseas, was escorted in a parade that stretched from Tinley Park to his father's pizza parlor, Mokena's Aurelio's Restaurant.

The kick stands of motorcycle-riding Warrior Riders went up at 1:30 p.m. in the parking lot at Chitown Harley Davidson, 17801 S. LaGrange Road. They formed an escort around Kaplan, who rode atop a fire truck. Together they both roared and rolled for 10.5 miles, concluding at the Kaplan family-owned restaurant at 19836 Wolf Road.

While a crowd of about 150 well-wishers gathered to celebrate Kaplan's return home, he, wife Alisha Kaplan and their daughter Lily greeted a host of flag-waving well-wishers from the community along with family, friends and veterans from throughout the Lincoln-Way area.

Before the presentation ceremony by Jon Cap, a veteran from Frankfort Square and member of Warriors Watch Riders, Kaplan said he was happy to be home for good. He served the last year at the US Marine base, Camp Pendleton in San Diego.

Speaking of the parade of well-wishers and escort, Kaplan said, “This is incredible, amazing. It’s good to be home,” reported the Sun-Times Media.

Read more about Kaplan's welcome home celebration in the Sun-Times Media. 

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