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MT. PLEASANT, IOWA -- Member of the 832nd Engineer Company have arrived home in Mt. Pleasant Thursday.

Family and friends from all over southeast Iowa gathered Thursday afternoon at Mt. Pleasant Community High School to welcome home members of the 832nd Engineering Company. The unit, which is supported by members of the Iowa National Guard, has been serving in Afghanistan for the past year.

The reunion was both emotional and joyful.  The entire town of Mt. Pleasant took part in the homecoming; from the fire department raising an American flag high above the roadway, to signs, placed up and down the street of the high school, each with a special welcome message for the soldiers returning from war.

By the time the soldiers reached the gymnasium at the high school, it was filled. Bagpipers led the soldiers into the facility under a canopy of American flags supplied by the honor guard and other members of the community.

This wasn’t the only welcome home ceremony to take place in Iowa on Thursday; events also took place in Johnston, Keokuk and Sioux City.