Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
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Gene Kennedy reportingA big welcome home today for Utah soldiers who have served in Iraq.
David Bawden, 115th Maintainence Company: "It's great, it's awesome, it's the best feeling ever. Being away from everybody, and then coming back to this great welcome, it's awesome."
Flags waved and tears were shed at the Utah Air National Guard this morning. 120 members from the 115th Maintenance Company came home to their families today.
They went to Iraq in April 2005 and thought they'd be there a year and a half. But then came news no one expected, they were coming early.
The people who care about them most were waiting on the tarmac.
To hold your daughter again or kiss your wife for the first time in a year. If any of these soldiers took it for granted, that ended the moment they stepped off this plane.
Staff Sgt. Bryan Busk, 115th Maintainence Company: "Just flying over Utah, seeing the mountains, seeing the snow coming off the plane, seeing my wife and family."
Laura McNeely, Soldier's Wife: "It's just that everything is right. The worrying the stress, it's over, it's gone it's done."
They're certainly grateful it's done. The men and women of the 115th Maintenance Company worked non-stop in the deserts of Iraq for 12 months, fixing trucks and guarded convoys.
While they've been in Iraq, their families have worked to hold together in their absence, people like Laura McNeely. She's raised two young daughters alone for the last year.
Laura McNeely, Soldier's Wife: "It's been hard. But I have a great family that has helped me and the girls, made it possible.
Most will get to know family again. Others will begin raising children they had during the war. For Brian and Valerie Busk, their plan starts from scratch.
Staff Sgt. Brian Busk: "Go home and make a family."
Some of those soldiers will go back to college. Others may go back to Iraq. But no matter what their story is, we asked all of them, "is it time for all the troops to come home?"
For their thoughts on that part of the story and why they feel the way they do, click here.
