Family and friends gathered at a Bristol Township pizzeria to welcome home Christopher Summers, a Marine who returned from deployment on Saturday.
Summers, 22, returned to Levittown after being deployed since February. The Marine has been on the USS Bataan in the Mediterranean Sea working in the aviation and electronics division. Summers said he worked on rebuilding, repairing and refurbishing V-22s.
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“I’m proud of him,” said Summers’ father, Woody Summers.
The family chose Joe’s Pizza on Bristol-Oxford Valley Rlad as the setting of the surprise party because whenever Summers returns from leave, the first stop the family makes is to grab a bite to eat from Joe’s.
Christopher Summers got a glimpse of his sister waiting by the door, so he knew something was up before he came into the building, he explained.
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“I didn’t expect everyone to show up. I thought I would have to go and see them,” the Marine said. “It’s a good feeling to know that all of these people care about me.”
Packed into the restaurant, the assembled family and friends cheered as Summers came through the door while rushing to embrace him. His sister, Jeannine Morges, held a sign reading: “It has been 231 days since you have had Joe’s Pizza.”
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“It’s super exciting to be able to welcome him back home,” Morges said.
The Summers family have been going to Joe’s Pizza since before it was “Joe’s.” Through that time, they have gotten to know the people who work at the restaurant.
“He’s a local neighborhood kid. He has always been a nice and respectful kid. This is the least that we can do for him to than k him for the service he has provided for our country,” said Tony Veneziale, the owner of Joe’s Pizza.
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Summers is on leave until October 10.
A lifelong resident of Bristol Township and Blue Ridge, Summers graduated from Harry S. Truman High School in 2013.
