This is an opinion piece.

Christmas may be over, but the red ribbons will be out in Brewton, Ala., today.

The town will officially welcome T.R. Miller student Ken Lett home, 105 days after he suffered a broken neck in a football game at UMS-Wright on Sept. 27.

The homecoming will include red ribbons displayed throughout the community. Lett has spent the last 93 days Shepherd Center Rehabilitation in Atlanta. He officially graduated for Shepherd on Thursday.

“I know he’s excited to be coming back,” T.R. Miller head coach Brent Hubbert said. “He wants to be around his friends and see all his people, and we’re certainly excited for him to be here.”

A local florist (Herrington’s) has been selling ribbons with half the proceeds going to Lett’s ongoing needs. Aunt Elsie’s Ice Cream Shoppe will donate 100 percent of its proceeds today to the Lett family. Hubbert said he is hoping Lett can attend the football team’s season-ending banquet on Sunday.

Lett, a sophomore, was injured while returning the opening kickoff in a 28-14 win at UMS-Wright in Mobile. He was immediately transported to USA Heath University Hospital in Mobile before ultimately being taken to Shepherd – a nationally known rehabilitation spot specializing in complex spinal cord and brain injuries.

Ken’s attitude and smile has been an inspiration to everyone who has followed his story in the past three months.

“That is who Ken is,” Hubbert said. “Even before the injury, that was Lett. It comes from his mom and dad. Ken will be an inspiration to our kids when he gets back. They ask daily about him. ‘When is he coming home? What can we do to help when he gets here?’ It’s been pretty cool to see. Everyone here is excited for him to be back.”

Though Lett has made significant progress in his recovery, the journey is certainly not over.

“He’ll continue physical therapy here obviously,” Hubbert said. “His muscles are still firing. His nerves are firing. He has things happening daily that are all positive. It’s a marathon, definitely not a sprint. We are still continuing to pray, and Ken is continuing to do the day-to-day tasks he needs to do. You can already see so much progress.”

Hubbert said Lett is not expected back at school until Jan. 20. He said meetings are ongoing about the ins and outs of setting up Ken’s school day.

“We’ll definitely have some big things set up for when he returns to school,” Hubbert said. “I’m sure in the meantime, we will have a lot of kids and coaches and just the community going to see him at home.”

Ken’s mom, Tonya, told me Thursday night that the family is very excited to come home finally but also sad to leave Shepherd.

“The staff here have become like family,” she said.

There are also plenty of family members in Brewton, and Ken will see that today. One of his mottos throughout has been, “Never Lett up.”

There is no doubt in my mind his drive will continue, and he will continue to inspire us all.

Never Lett up, indeed.

Thanks for your courage, Ken.

Thought for the Day

“I have told you these things, so that in me, you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart. I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

Ben Thomas is the high school managing producer at AL.com. He has been named one of the 50 legends of the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Follow him on twitter at @BenThomasPreps or email him at [email protected] .