Hero's welcome: Sacramento plans parade for trio who thwarted Paris train attack
Three young men who disarmed a suspected Islamist militant on a high-speed train in France will be honored with a parade in their hometown in California next week, according to city officials.
The last of the trio arrived back in the United States聽on Thursday聽after being treated for injuries sustained in the incident.
The three friends 鈥� Anthony Sadler; Spencer Stone, a US airman; and Alek Skarlatos, a National Guardsman 鈥� were on holiday in Europe, in part to celebrate Mr. Skarlatos鈥� recent return from a tour of duty in Afghanistan.
Since foiling the attack the trio have been showered with praise and awards on both sides of the Atlantic. The three Americans, along with Briton Chris Norman, were awarded the Legion of Honor, France鈥檚 highest honor.
Fr茅d茅ric Leturque, the mayor of Arras, France, near where the attack happened, also presented medals to the four men.
The three Americans grew up in the Sacramento, Calif., area and went to middle and high school together.
Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson announced聽on Thursday聽that a parade honoring their bravery was scheduled for聽Sept. 11.
鈥淥ur community has been anxiously awaiting the return of our three hometown heroes 鈥� Anthony, Alek, and Spencer 鈥� so that we can celebrate and honor their incredible courage,鈥� he said in a statement.
The three friends were on a train heading from Amsterdam to Paris when they heard gunshots in the carriage behind them, then the accused gunman, Ayoub El-Khazzani, entered their carriage.
Mr. Sadler, a senior kinesiology major at Sacramento State University, said they immediately started to rush the gunman.
鈥淎s he was cocking [the rifle] to shoot it, Alek just yells, 鈥楽pencer go!鈥� and Spencer runs down the aisle,鈥� Sadler told reporters. 鈥淪pencer makes first contact, he tackles the guy, Alek wrestles the gun away from him, and the gunman pulls out a box cutter and slices Spencer a few times. And the three of us beat him until he was unconscious.鈥�
鈥淚 came to see my friends for my first trip to Europe and we stop a terrorist,鈥� he added. 鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of crazy.鈥�
Mr. Stone, an Airman 1st Class, arrived at Travis Air Force Base, near Sacramento,聽on Thursday聽night. He had been receiving treatment at a US Army hospital in Germany.
About 200 people had gathered to greet him, including Master Sgt. Tanya Hubbard, Stone鈥檚 former supervisor at Travis Air Force Base.
鈥淲e鈥檙e just very proud of him,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not really a surprise to any of us what he did. He鈥檚 got a lot of integrity. He鈥檚 just an all-around great guy.鈥�
Air Force Secretary Deborah James said Stone鈥檚 unit was nominating him for the Airmen鈥檚 medal, the Air Force鈥檚 highest medal for non-combat bravery.
Skarlatos will receive the Soldier鈥檚 Medal, the US Army鈥檚 highest non-combat medal, Army officials said last week.
Sadler was thanked for his actions by Sacramento State University president Robert S. Nelsen.
Military officials have said that, since the attack is currently classified as a non-combat event, the two servicemen are not in line for any commendations for valor. Should the French investigation into the attack officially deem it a terror-related event, however, they may be eligible to receive the Purple Heart and perhaps even the Bronze Star or Silver Star.
This report contains material from the Associated Press and Reuters.
