T-L Photo/GAGE St. Clairsville police officer Greg Clark receives a police escort returning home from Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Police officer Greg Clark was welcomed by residents as he returned from Morgantown after being life-flighted.

Earlier this month, Clark experienced an unexpected medical emergency while on patrol.

When Clark’s daughter, Becca Schwertfeger, learned he would be released from Ruby Memorial Hospital, she took to Facebook to make a call to action.

She said a family friend came up with the idea to have a welcome-back parade for Clark as a surprise.

“A family friend had the idea to line Main Street in St. C as Mom and I bring him home, to show just how much love and support surrounds him,” Schwertfeger said. “My father is very involved in the community. He’s constantly doing something. We actually always laugh because he’s never home, he’s always helping somebody by cutting this person’s grass or picking that person up. And so the idea kind of came about that he’s such a part of the community that the community wanted to welcome him home, to express how much they’ve missed seeing him around, and how much they love and they support him.”

On Tuesday afternoon, Clark was welcomed by students of St. Mary’s Central School, who lined Main Street waving and holding signs.

Continuing past St. Mary’s, residents lined Main Street to greet Clark. The parade concluded at St. Clairsville High School, where the entire staff stood on the school’s sidewalk and waved while the St. Clairsville High School Band performed.

“It really shows the respect they have for me as a police officer. People remember how you treat them,” Clark said. “Like the Bible says reap what you sow and that’s so true, because I couldn’t believe how many people reached out to me.”

He added that he’s incredibly touched by the community support not only he but his entire family has received during this unexpected time.

“It’s overwhelming, very heartfelt that the people want to help me and my family,” Clark said. “I can’t express my thanks, especially to the band being out here playing for me, and everybody in front of the courthouse lined up.”

Schwertfeger said she was blown away by the number of people who reached out to her.

“Initially we hadn’t even posted about it, and people were figuring it out and reaching out to us and that’s when we kind of decided to post about it, because originally we weren’t going to,” Schwertfeger said. “But then there was so much outcry and outpour of love and need for information to know exactly what had happened.”

She added that her phone was constantly dinging with messages asking how Clark was.

“It was overwhelming in the greatest way possible. I just want to give a huge thank you to everybody who reached out and supported him throughout this journey,” Schwertfeger said.

Another way the community is coming together is through a steak fry benefit organized by St. Clairsville Police Chief Matt Arbenz, recreation director Eric Gay, and Mayor Kathryn Thalman. The event will help Clark and his family with medical bills and takes place May 16 from 4-11 p.m.

Tickets for the steak fry and outdoor concert are $30. The event will be held at the amphitheater behind Red Devil Stadium.

Activities include cornhole tournaments, live music, and fireworks provided by former Belmont County Sheriff Dave Lucas from his family business, Ohio Fireworks. Ruttenbucks will provide the steaks, potatoes and salads.

“Thank you to the community, and especially the St. Clairsville Police Department and the Fire Department. They have been absolutely so supportive of not just my dad but our entire family, checking in, making sure we were okay if we needed anything, and their response to the initial emergency is the reason he’s here today,” Schwertfeger said.

She added that Clark’s next step is outpatient physical therapy. He will also participate in occupational therapy and speech therapy.

“The next steps are just kind of getting him back to being able to function on his own,” Schwertfeger said.

Clark added that he must get clearance from his doctor to drive and prepare to return to work.

Schwertfeger said there’s no specific timeline for Clark’s recovery.

“The brain can take up to a year to heal. It has been fascinating learning about the brain and everything that goes into it,” Schwertfeger said. “I would think it was really cool if it weren’t my dad.”