It's a very merry Christmas this year for one family, as Corporal Luke McDermott's family gets the best present they could've asked for. The brave marine is home for the holidays. Our Solomon Syed has more on the inspirational story of this Greenville native.

ALBANY, N.Y. -- A hero's welcome for Luke McDermott. About 300 friends and family saluted Corporal McDermott as he stepped off his flight from Baltimore. It's been a long road back home, more than a year since he left for his second tour of duty in Afghanistan.

"Ugh, wow. I wouldn't want to travel it any longer, but I'm glad to be able to do it with somebody like that for a son,” said Jerry McDermott.

"I’m too emotional. I'm just proud of him and glad that he's home,” said Darlene McDermott.

On June 9th, an IED blew up Luke's armored vehicle. The 22-year-old lost both of his legs, but after weeks of surgeries at Bethesda Naval Hospital, and months of rehab at Fort Sam Houston, the purple heart recipient's walking on his new prosthetic legs.

It's an incredible accomplishment. Though Luke says he didn't do it alone.

"It’s been a long road; I've still got a long way to go. I just think about my friends that I lost over there, thinking that they'd love to have the opportunity that I have right now, so that kind of motivates me right now,” said Luke McDermott.

Luke stayed with his unit for days despite his injuries, and wants to continue his service in any way possible.

For now, though, he's going to enjoy seeing his family and friends this Christmas, something many of us take for granted. But a fitting reward for this heroic marine.

"Everybody that's here, that's been there for me, doing things for all the troops, you know it's just incredible,” said Luke.

"He looked up to me before and now it's my chance to look up to him, and I have and I always will. My hero,” said Jerry.