Family, friends and neighbors ready to welcome Josh Holt home to Utah
May 28, 2018, 7:18 AM | Updated: 8:24 am
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
RIVERTON, Utah – Family, friends and neighbors have been tying ribbons along 12600 South to get ready for Joshua Holt’s return this week.
His family hopes he’ll be coming back on Tuesday. Holt, his wife Thamy, and her young daughter were taken to a hospital in Washington DC, after landing Saturday evening and meeting with President Donald Trump.
Once they’re given a clean bill of health, they’ll make their way back to Utah.
Holt was held in a Venezuelan prison for two years.
“We wanted him to come home to something awesome,” said Derek Holt, Josh’s brother. “Something that said the community didn’t forget about you.”
They chose neon green ribbons, Holt’s favorite color.
“When I finally found out it was real and he was coming home, I just started crying,” said Katie Holt, Josh’s younger sister.
“I’m just going to give him a big bear hug and smack him and say you’re never leaving again,” said Katie.
“I got a call at like 4 or 5 o’clock in the morning from my mom and dad saying they had to go to D.C., Josh is getting out,” said Derek. “I just did a double take. It was shocking because it was out of the blue.”
The Holt family says they’ve been touched by the outpouring of community support.
“The amount of support from everybody just really just blows my mind,” said Katie. “Our whole family has been grateful for all the love.”
-contributing: KSL TV
