While Westmont resident and Sgt. 1st Class John Jonak was stationed with the Illinois National Guard in Afghanistan for a year, it was his thoughts about his family and friends that kept him motivated.

Those people, and many others, came Monday, June 1 to welcome him home with a parade and party at Ty Warner Park.

“It’s just an incredible feeling to be back,” Jonak said. “And for so many to welcome me home, this is just a great feeling. It’s also great knowing I am home with my family, and I won’t be leaving again anytime soon.”

Jonak came home Monday to a hero’s welcome, with a motorcycle and fire engine parade and a party at Ty Warner Park with dozens of residents, family and friends.

He has been serving with the U.S. Army National Guard in northern Afghanistan for nearly a year as part of the Alpha Battery 1/122 based out of Sycamore. He was deployed to Afghanistan last June.

Jonak said his immediate plans are to spend time with his wife, Tonia Jonak, and 2-year-old daughter, Katie. He said he plans to take a vacation to Walt Disney World with the family in a few weeks.

He has been with the Army for 18 years, two as an enlisted soldier and the last 16 as a member of the National Guard. He has been deployed four times, once to Germany for several months after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, served with the military police in Colorado and helped with the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

When not serving with the Guard, he is an assistant principal at a middle school in Melrose Park, where he was escorted to Tuesday, June 2 afternoon as part of a parade by the Warriors Watch Riders, a veterans motorcycle group.

Tonia Jonak, who has been married to her husband for eight years, said she has accepted the lifestyle of an “Army wife” and said she has been anxiously awaiting his return.

“This is the third time he has been deployed since we have been married, and it has been a challenge being without him for a year,” she said. “But I’m just so happy that he has made it home safely. And with the weather holding out like it has, it’s another ray of sunshine for us.”

John Jonak said he was happy to be home, but his unit lost a few people in Afghanistan. He said he feels for their families.

“We have about another 2,700 guys who will be coming home over the next couple of months, and my prayers will continue to be with them and their families,” he said.

One of the people who came to the celebration was Village Trustee Patricia Klebenow, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Lady Auxiliary. She said it was a great day for the village when it can welcome home one of its own.

“It is a big honor for me to be here today,” she said.

As far as the future, John Jonak said he has more than a year left in his National Guard service, and he does not see himself being deployed again for a long period of time.

“It’ll be nice to get back to a normal life, with my family and my job, which has all been on hold for the past year,” he added.

Steve Collins, a member of the Downers Grove American Legion Post who lives on the same block as the Jonaks, said he has been waiting for his return. When Tonia Jonak had told him he was coming home, Collins contacted the motorcycle group to organize the parade.

“Seeing all these people coming out here to welcome home one of our own is really something special,” Collins said.