It was an emotional day in New Jersey for some local members of the military who returned home after spending a year in Afghanistan.

60 members of the New Jersey National Guard 119th Combat Service Support Battalion marched onto Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Tuesday afternoon to a hero’s welcome.

Banners and flags were waving in the cold, crisp air outside the base as families and friends awaited the arrival of their loved ones.

NJ National Guard members return home
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Jamie Colon was reunited with her fiance, Jeff Johnson.  “It feels great…I’m so happy.”

Some, like Sergeant First Class Jonson, knew the feeling of coming home.  “I’m ready for my son to be back from his first deployment and its good for him to get one under his belt…but I’m a nervous wreck.”

NJ National Guard members return home
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Others, haven’t not seen their families for nearly 12 months, are welcoming in new children and grandchildren whom they’ve never met.

“My wife is coming home to a new grandchild and we are absolutely thrilled to see her…she’s the glue that holds this family together.  Its hard on both sides when someone is away overseas…you are at home paying the bills keeping everything going and then you have to make sure the one you love has everything they need over there…it can be very straining at times” said David of Pemberton Township.

NJ National Guard members return home
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Commanding Officer Walter Nall said in the end, they all have the same goal…to  return home safe and sound, “That’s really what a Commander wants to do and I did that, and these men and women did a fantastic job over there.”

The men and women will spend nearly a week on base at Dix getting readjusted to civilian life before returning home to their families.

NJ National Guard members return home
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