A surprise homecoming parade, and more

A surprise homecoming parade

Matthew Rodgers, a 20-year-old Marine serving in Afghanistan, hoped to surprise his parents this Thanksgiving by returning unannounced. But his 17-year-old sister, Tori, had bigger plans. She secretly organized a homecoming parade in their hometown of Gaithersburg, Md., to surprise Matthew and their parents. The young lance corporal returned home last week to the welcome of a marching band, a fire truck, the town’s mayor, and 100 friends and family. “He deserves so much more than this,” said Tori. “But this will be good, just for today.”

Sleeping outdoors to raise money

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A teenager from Plymouth, Minn., is celebrating his 12th straight year of sleeping in a cardboard box from Nov. 12 through Dec. 31 to spur people to pledge money to the homeless. Peter Larson has raised $400,000 since age 6, when he first started sleeping in the box in a sleeping bag made by his grandmother. He has spent almost 300 nights sleeping outdoors, in temperatures as low as minus 20. Now 17, Larson hopes to raise an additional $100,000 this year. “I sleep out because, in my heart, I know I’m helping other people,” he said.

A car driver's lucky escape

A driver whose car plunged into a pond off a remote road in northwestern Ohio had a lucky escape when a brave truck driver waded in to rescue him. Earl Kuhlman, 63, lost control of his car at around 9:30 p.m. and careered into a pond next to a dairy. Fortunately, John Neumeier, 58, was loading his truck up with milk from the dairy and heard Kuhlman’s car enter the water. He grabbed a wrench, smashed the window of the partially submerged car, and dragged Kuhlman to safety. Kuhlman was lucky, Neumeier said, since the dairy is normally deserted at that time.