A few months late for Christmas but just in time for Valentine's Day, the men and women of Army National Guard unit, E Co. 1/252 Cab, based in Wadesboro returned home Tuesday afternoon after nearly a year in Iraq.

The servicemen and women were met on a rainy, cold afternoon at the National Guard Armory in Wadesboro by wives, friends, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters and other supporters with balloons, signs, cheers and hugs for the returning soldiers.

As they drove into town on two tour buses on Highways 52 and 74, the troops were greeted with yellow ribbons posted on light poles and other highly visible spots.

When addressing the troops before officially discharging them to greet their friends and family, unit commander Capt. August Melcour said, "Thanks for everything you've done. I know you're all really looking forward to going home." To the small crowd gathered for the homecoming, he added, "And seeing the support here in town means a lot."

Some in the crowd, like Queenie Lee, had two loved ones in the unit to reunite with. Lee met her son, Quentin Lee, and her nephew, Cedric Pickett, with teary hugs.

Kari Burriss and her children met her husband, Ryan Burriss, all dressed in yellow and waving American flags and signs.

"He's been gone since last April and they started training in December," she said. "So it's been a long time. We've got planned whatever he wants to do. Whatever his heart desires, we're gonna do."

Shawn Slatt said he's been home a few weeks here and there since December 2008, but was really looking forward to spending more time with his girlfriend, Samantha Fernandez, and their 3-month-old son, Reed Collin Slatt.

After seeing his son in person for the first time, Slatt said, "I got really tired of seeing him on the computer."

Fernandez said she couldn't really describe her feelings at finally seeing her baby and his father meet for the first time. "I didn't even want to believe he was really coming home," she said. "But now he's here."