Soldiers return home to Mount Pleasant

About 50 Iowa National Guard soldiers and hundreds of family members filled the gym at Mount Pleasant High School Thursday. It was a moment they all were waiting for.

Chantell Hummel, of Minnesota, was there to welcome home her husband, Spc. Tyler Hummel. "I was holding it all back but it was great, it felt amazing," Hummel said.

She applauds Iowa for their support of the armed forces. "It's amazing in Iowa, it's like everywhere you go it's military and it's beautiful, it really is," Hummel said.

Spc. Brent Roth was also thrilled to be home from service in Afghanistan. "It's great, I got to see my fiance and her belly's getting a bit bigger. We are due in December," Roth said.

Spc. Scott Neff agrees with Roth that it felt great to be home. "It's the best feeling in the world, nothing can describe it," Neff said.

Family and friends packed the inside of the gym, but the love and support could be found outside as well. As soldiers entered town on Thursday, signs lined the streets. Each sign had a different soldiers name. At the end of the road was an American flag, flying high above, something that couldn't be missed.

"I was out of my seat, standing in the middle of the bus, ready to get out," Neff said.

"I felt pride, I am really happy to be home," Roth said.

Hummel says the flags and signs show how great the Mount Pleasant community is. "You come to this community and everywhere you go you're so involved with everything," Hummel said.

Family and friends at the ceremony showed soldiers how proud of them they were. Soldiers also showed how proud they were of each other.

"I'm proud of everyone that served with me, that was my family over there," Neff said.

The homecoming ceremony was one of four across the state on Thursday. Johnston, Keokuk and Sioux City also had ceremonies.