Back from Iraq

A crowd of nearly 1,000 family and friends welcomed back 110 members of Delaware’s National Guard after a year-long deployment in Iraq.

110 soldiers received a heroes welcome in Dover after serving nearly a year in Iraq.

Members of the 261st Signal Brigade were welcomed home by a crowd of nearly 1,000 family, friends, and dignitaries, including Vice President Joe Biden.  Biden was there to welcome home all the troops, but one soldier in particular.  Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, the VP’s son, is a member of the 261st.  The Vice President teared up as he delivered the welcome home message.

“I stand here steeped in pride.  As an American, I am awed by the quality, the significance of your service.  And as a parent, as a father, I can’t tell you the feeling I have in welcoming home a son.”

Biden left the ceremony early in order to make it back to Washington in time for a strategy meeting on Afghanistan.

While in Iraq, the 261st trained the locals in communications skills at the Baghdad Signal University.  They were also responsible for maintaining communications for the military both in theater and with the rest of the world.  Delaware Governor Jack Markell congratulated the soldiers on a job well done.

“On behalf of all Delawareans, to you, to our humble heroes, we say thank you and welcome home.”