Injured Marine coming home to Lafayette

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - A Lafayette marine who was injured in Afghanistan earlier this year is coming home for the first time since being hurt.

23-year-old Cpl. Mathew Bowman will be coming home to Lafayette Wednesday July 6 around 6:40 p.m. It's the first time he has been back to Lafayette since losing both his legs while serving in Afghanistan in February.

Post 11 Legion Riders Director Mark Posey said the Legion Riders, Rolling Thunder and the Patriot Guard will be meeting Matt and his family in Zionsville Wednesday to escort Bowman back to Lafayette.

State Police will also be on marked motorcycles helping the riders escort the Bowman family back to Lafayette.

Posey expects the arrival time in Lafayette to be around 6:40 in the evening.

"We would like to see the community get involved by lining the streets on Veteran's Memorial Parkway, the old 350 South. Then we are going to take Matt down to his alma mater, McCutcheon High School. We would like to get the community involved on the sides of the street to bring the escort in," Posey said. "We just want Matt to know the community is behind him 100 percent, he and his family. We want to help him out any way we can. What better way to start out than having a big homecoming for him?"

Posey also said Bowman wants to also be able to thank the community for all they have done for him and his family.

Posey said every one is welcome to meet Bowman at McCutcheon and welcome him home.

He said anyone with a motorcycle who would like to help escort Bowman home from Zionsville is welcome to do so. The riders will be leaving Post 11 at 1801 S. 9th Street in Lafayette on July 6th at 5:00 p.m. sharp.