Marc Fogel on plane home to the United States. Submitted Photo

Marc Fogel is finally home.

The Butler native was wrongfully detained in Russia in August 2021, and his family, friends and a bipartisan coalition of politicians have worked for his release ever since.

Fogel, who was detained at a Russian airport with a half-ounce of medical marijuana prescribed for chronic back pain, was reunited with his mother, Malphine, and sister, Anne, after nearly 1,300 days.

Fogel was sentenced to 14 years in a Russian penal colony. His situation was desperate, there is no question. When Anne Fogel first spoke to the Butler Eagle after her brother’s release, she couldn’t contain herself, yelling, “We are thrilled to death, and we got the confirmation he’s out of (Russian) airspace! He’s on his way home!”

It’s hard to imagine the emotions Fogel and his family are feeling now. There’s sure to be a lot of joy, relief and love, but there probably will be some exhaustion and anxiety leftover as well.

The work to get him home hasn’t always moved as quickly as we’d have liked or in the ways we’d have liked, but a lot of people have contributed to this effort over the years — including members of the Butler County community.

But in a time of political tensions, it’s also time to celebrate the efforts on behalf of members from both parties to recognize that when we all work together, good things happen — important things happen.

Butler’s Congressman Mike Kelly, R-16th, has long called for Fogel’s release and worked to bring his case to light.

Former President Joe Biden classified Fogel as wrongfully detained in October and just last month both of Pennsylvania’s representatives in the U.S. Senate — Democrat John Fetterman and Republican Dave McCormick — expressed their desire to work toward Fogel’s release during Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s confirmation hearings. Likewise, Rubio said he intended to focus on Fogel’s case once confirmed.

On Tuesday afternoon, President Donald Trump, who promised when he was a candidate to bring Fogel home, announced that his national security adviser Mike Waltz was with Fogel as the two left Russian airspace bound for America.

Fogel should never have been kept from his family for so long.

We all should keep in mind that working together is always going to make us stronger. Our efforts are more impressive when we join forces. There are few things as formidable as Americans united behind a cause — especially one as just as this.

Welcome home Marc Fogel, we’re so glad to have you back.

— KL