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SARATOGA SPRINGS — Some Utah troops returning home from a deployment in Afghanistan planned a casual inexpensive welcome home dinner.
One family found out about those plans and decided that wasn’t good enough, and the entire community rallied behind them.
The 204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade returned from Afghanistan in January. It’s customary to hold what they call “yellow ribbon" events. It’s a chance to reconnect with each other, receive awards and provide resources for families.
But Friday’s event wasn’t the one they had planned.
Last March, the soldiers in the brigade said goodbye to their family members.
“They’re always tough when you leave home. The toughest part is being away from your family,” said Chief Warrant Officer Richard Brusik.
During their deployment in Afghanistan, the group provided base security and maintained day-to-day operations.
They came back in January to an emotional homecoming.
Since funds for the unit are tight, brigade leadership planned a low-key affair for their Friday event.
“Honestly it was probably going to be in the gym, a park, a pizza party type thing,” Brusik said.
They settled on the back room of a restaurant. But the Huggans family of Saratoga Springs found out about the event.
“The deployment is called ‘Enduring Freedom.’ The back of the restaurant just wasn’t going to do,” said Lorrain Huggans.
The Huggans' decided to host a formal “welcome home” for all the troops and their spouses.
“It’s our way of serving those who serve us. It just seemed like a neat thing for our family to do,” Huggans said.
But what they didn’t expect was the outpouring of support when others in the community heard what they planned to do.
A business in Eagle Mountain provided the venue, chairs and tables. Smith’s Food and Drug in Saratoga Springs offered the meat at cost.
“Floored. Floored at how generous people are. It was wonderful,” Huggans said.
One little boy volunteered time making sure the glasses were full during the dinner.
For these soldiers, it was more than they ever expected.
“It’s really kind of breathtaking to come home and to see what the community could put together for us,” Brusik said.
“I had the opportunity to be in a place where it wasn’t so great and then to come back here to this country,” Lt. Col. Paul Rodgers said. “It feels amazing. It feels incredible.”
And Friday night wasn’t just about getting together. Many of the soldiers received awards, including 13 bronze stars for distinguished service during a deployment.
