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BARTONVILLE, ILL. -- A long-awaited heroes' welcome in Central Illinois today as a motorcade escorts the U.S. Army 724th Transportation Company home from Iraq.
Hundreds of family members and friends gathered outside of the Bartonville Reserve Center Thursday to welcome their soldiers home.
It's been a year since Bartonville's 724th Transportation Company Left home for the war torn roads of Iraq.
A year since Emily Robison has seen her husband, Tim. They were newlyweds when he was deployed.
"If anything it's made us closer together, impenetrable. I have no fear in us ever having problems at all...we can get through anything now," Emily said.
A year since Elizabeth Robison has seen her brother...
"Being able to talk to him...because we lost our mom a year ago, just before he lfe and it's been really hard to talk, because I have nobody else to talk to that understands me," said Elizabeth
A year since Robert Robison, a veteran, has seen his son...
"Words can't describe how I feel about him, how excited are you? On a scale of 1-10..about 300," Robert said.
The 724th spent the last 12 months hauling fuel throughout the war zone.
Now, the whole Robison family and hundreds of others are giving their Heroes the homecoming they say these soldiers deserve.
"How's it feel to be home? It's great. And all the family and friends? Yea, It's great...good to be home...good to be home," Tim said.
"Yesterday he told me, I love my country. Coming back into the peaceful home that we have. I mean so many of us take it for granted. He just loves it...he knows what he's fighting for," said Robert.
The 724th TC returns with 166 soldiers strong.
They say it's the support like this from home that keeps them fighting.
Fighting for their country...fighting for freedom...and fighting for family.
