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Pirate hostage captain praises SEAL 'superheroes'
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-04-18 11:49 "We're respecting the family's wishes and waiting to see what they'd like to do," said Kari Papelbon, the town's zoning administrator. But all around town, the yellow ribbons that came to symbolize Underhill's hope during the five days of Phillips' captivity fluttered in a spring breeze, with lots of late additions as his arrival drew near.
Just as telling were a pair of posterboard signs on the fence in front of Phillips' home. "Thank You for Your Prayers," said one. "Please Give Us Some Time as a Family," said another, a polite message to members of the media and anyone else hoping to get close. "This is not one of our typical homecomings," Andrea Phillips said during the family's airport appearance, "and now that Richard is back, I just ask that you give us some time for us to be a family again." Phillips was looking forward to some simple pleasures at home - a cold beer, some chicken pot pie and his mother-in-law's brownies. Around Underhill, folks planned to welcome him but give him his space, too. "You want to say `welcome home' and then be as normal as possible," said Molly Abbey. "The beauty of a small town is you have the lifting up and the support but also that people respect privacy." Other crew members marked homecomings this week, as well. On Sunday, just days after returning to his home in New York City's Harlem neighborhood, William Rios will be in the pews at Second St. John Baptist Church. The Rev. Robert Jones said that he has spoken to Rios since his return and that he agreed to speak during the morning service. Jones also said Rios told him about his ordeal in a telephone conversation. "He was very afraid," Jones said. "He said, 'I was afraid because I didn't know what was going to happen.' He's thanking God, and we're thanking God." In West Hartford, Conn., Maersk Alabama crew member ATM "Zahid" Reza, who was steering the ship and stabbed one of the pirates when they attacked, said he'll avoid the shipping lanes off Somalia from now on because it's too dangerous there. He returned home to his wife and 6-year-old son Friday afternoon and was greeted by neighbors holding welcome home signs. He said he was looking forward to some sleep and time with his family. "I feel now it's peace and quiet," he said. "I'm so glad to see my wife, my son."
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