MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - An area of the Monroe Regional Airport transformed Saturday morning into a welcome party.
"These young men and women that just got off of this plane, they came home safe. But they went over there and did what they did so you can enjoy your freedom," one troop supporter said.
150 Louisiana National Guardsmen from the 1022nd Engineer Company, based out of West Monroe along with several units in Ruston and Shreveport are back after a year in the Middle East.
"I'm glad the people out here support us and everything but so glad to be back," one guardsmen said.
The troops are mostly from Northern Louisiana and they served their 12 months in Afghanistan leading a string of construction projects and providing extra security on the ground.
"Thank God I'm home. I'm so happy to see my family again," another guardsmen said.
The Powell family is among many others who have watched more than one relative serve overseas.
"Very emotional, we've had a long year," the mother of a soldier said.
Friday, May 17 2013 12:09 PM EDT2013-05-17 16:09:18 GMT
FARMERVILLE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - The family of a Farmerville teen who died at football practice last week says it is overwhelmed by the community's gratitude.
FARMERVILLE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - The family of a Farmerville teen who died at football practice last week says it is overwhelmed by the community's gratitude.
