There were Smiles all around from the family and friends of these 65 men and women who've spent the past year deployed globally in support of both operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
For Lt. Col. Pete Green this is the second time he has deployed, leaving his family behind.

Green says, "We all know that serving in the military it's part of our mission and it's part of our roles and responsibilities and so even thought it's hard to leave when we go off and do the mission but we're always happy to be back home."

Pete's wife Kathy Greene says, "You miss them and it's amazing how much you take for granted a lot of things that your spouse does around the house and in your family life so you have to make a lot of adjustments."

Which why the families of each deployed Airmen were honored during today's ceremony.
Each child was given a special medal to signify the sacrifices they've made as well.

Major General Michael Akey says, "Here in the Massachusetts Air National Guard we are a family and we also wanted to recognize their families and their families are important because frankly each and every one of us have deployed and it's easy on us as the member, it's tougher on the families."

Wing Commander Col. Robert Brooks says, "We wanted to have a big ceremony back here at the base so all the fellow airmen could see everybody and welcome them home all at once so it's a great opportunity to say thanks to the families and thanks to the children because they sacrificed as much as anybody does."

Tech Sgt. Joel Christofori says, "It's great to see her, she pretty much grew up with out me I left when she was about 6 months old and here she is when I got home."

Which means the next few months will be spent making up for lost time.

Joe's wife Anne Marie Christofori says, "He missed a lot, a lot of her and a lot of changes with her but it's nice because you wouldn't even have known it when he came home, she kissed him, hugged him, it was beautiful."