Tearful Reunion

Today I went to see the Minnesota Red Bull National Guard return to the Anoka Armory. I wanted to be there to welcome them home from their 22 month deployment. These 90 + men and women left about the same time my son did and are just now getting home. Their unit had the longest deployment of any unit in National Guard history.

From their website:

The 1/34 BCT conducted its Transfer of Authority ceremony with the 1/82 BCT(A) at the Ziggurat of Ur on 11 July 2007, ending another chapter in Red Bull history. During the longest deployment of any unit to date in Operation Iraqi Freedom, they drove 2.4 million miles with 99% on time starts; discovered a significant number of IEDs before they could detonate; achieved a 98% vehicle readiness rate; processed 1.5 million vehicles at entry control points without incident; completed $29 million in Iraqi reconstruction (seven water plants, 90 miles of road, numerous schools, and hundreds of miles of roadside cleanup); closed eight redundant radio relay points and improved the remaining three; and provided $55 million in force protection improvements for four bases. 1/34th BCT has earned the Operation Iraqi Freedom Campaign Streamer for its service in Iraq from March 2006 to July 2007

I can't imagine what it is like for them. People were waiting in Goodrich Field. I saw about 50 Patriot Guard Riders holding American Flags and lining Fourth Avenue and the entrance to the field. Their bikes were lined up inside and outside the field. I talked to a few of them and thanked them for what they were doing. All of them said they were happy to do it and proud to be a part of today's ceremony. I saw about 500 people waiting in the field. Some were infants and some were senior citizens and most were inbetween. I started crying right away. I don't know why. I don't know any of the people returning but tears streamed down my face. Someone on the loudspeaker announced that the buses were at Hwy. 10 and 7th Ave and should be here in 5 minutes. The crowd cheered. Soon we heard the sirens. Police escorted the buses down 4th Avenue followed by the Anoka Fire Trucks with horns blaring. The carriage buses were next. I waved and blew kisses at the faces behind the tinted windows. The buses unloaded and the soldiers went onto the field. The crowd went wild with cheers and whistles and hoots. Some official thanked the families for their service and the soldiers were dismissed. They walked out to meet their families. They all look alike to me in their uniforms. The first meeting I saw was a young woman who ran up to a man and locked her legs around his waist. I saw one young man in civilian clothes approach a soldier from below and surprised him. He was startled for a second, recovered, and hugged that young man so tight for about 2 minutes. He nestled his head in the guys neck. A couple times he patted him on the back and then they went back into the hug. I was so moved. Their family had time to position the camera during the hug. When they finally broke up the young man in civilian clothes had tears streaming down his face. The soldier wore sunglasses. I saw so many happy people leaving the field. I wish them the best. I pray they all do well.

I am so glad I went.