Saturday morning, the city of Forsyth and the surrounding community formally welcomed home the men and women of the 48th Brigade's 148th Brigade Support Battalion.
The ceremony comes three months after about 70 Forsyth-based National Guardsmen completed their deployment to Afghanistan.
Members of the battalion filed in to the sound of their names--recognition for each one after a year spent overseas training Afghan police and military.
Forsyth Mayor Tye Howard joined Representative Jim Cole in thanking the men and women who served, and their families.
In his speech to the unit, Howard said the military families "were not only missing you, but also sometimes conflicted about the value of you being away."
Capt. Darryl Griffing of Conyers says he's had since April to re-adjust from being away. His wife Niki says their kids took the year-long separation the hardest.
"They missed daddy," says Capt. Griffing, a father of three, as he hoists his two daughters up, one on each hip. "We did a lot of stuff together before I left, and now we're doing all that good stuff again now that I'm back home."
Also recognized, those with no family ties to the unit who still supported it. Cumming couple Stacy and Bobby Amos got thanks for preparing care packages for soldiers they'd never met.
"It's the least that we can do to give back to them," says Stacy Amos. "Give them a little peace and comfort while they're away from home."
After the ceremony, families gathered outside on the pavilion of the Georgia Public Safety Training Center for food and fellowship.
Sergeant Grady Jenkins' family, from Cochran, shared in the good company. Niece Dominique Allen says she's glad to have him back.
"I missed him," says Allen. "He was gone for a long time. I'm glad he's home now though."
The City of Macon is planning a welcome home parade for members of the the 48th Brigade on Friday, July 30th.