For Lt. and Mrs. McGovern this homecoming couldn't come soon enough. The couple celebrated their first anniversary while the Lieutenant was at sea. It was only fitting they be the first kiss on the dock when he returned home.
"Technically I've only seen her for three months out of that first year, so we still have another nine to go. It's good to be home," said Lt. Andrew McGovern.
"This is our first deployment, it's been a long time," added his wife, Robin.
Other families felt the same way. They were anxious to have their loved ones back home.
"It's always been rough but he's done a lot of tours prior to this, but this is the first time with him, he misses his daddy a little bit," said David Chahanovich of Moosup.
The crew of the U.S.S. Providence was deployed for six months. They traveled through the Arctic, then ended up helping with national security in the Pacific.
The sailors arrived home Thursday to hugs and kisses from family and friends.
"It is the most immense pride and joy that these men are just our heroes," said Laurie Sommer of Waterford.
But even with the joy of coming home to their families, the crew weren't forgetting their fellow servicemen and women.
"Big thing to keep in mind is we're home, we're home for the holidays, but we have a lot of service members out and about, in harms way right now, so we want to wish the best for them and their families this holiday season," said Chief of the Boat Jeff Leith.
