On Thursday night, Brad and I attended a ceremony at 11pm, hoping to see some more friends come in, as they were expected that night; no such luck. So, in the middle of the night, I got back in the car to go back for a 2 am ceremony. Friends who I have been e-mailing for more than a year were expected back, and I couldn't stand to miss their return. I almost missed it!! I went to the back gate, forgetting it closed at midnight, and forgetting it has a counterpart just up the hill that's open 24/7, I drove all the way back around to the front gate.
By the time I got to the Hall of Champions and parked, I could hear the music and the screaming, and I ran around and into the building just in time for the prayer and dismissal. Then it was run into the crowd and search faces until I saw them. I found Jonathan first, and he ran up to me and gave me a kiss on the cheek and a hug, and we found Sean and I got another great hug. We stood around and talked, trying to put 14 months of waiting into words. I can't really describe it. I'm so glad I was there, though - these guys have no one here to come home to, and both said often how glad they were that I was there to see them, even at 2 in the morning. I know I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Welcome Home!!

You're awesome Laura. Glad that you could be there for them. Thanks for serving our country and our Lord!
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