There was an emotional homecoming Thursday for members of the Connecticut Air National Guard.
Nearly 60 airmen and their aircraft returned to Connecticut following a four-month deployment in Kuwait.
“The last leg of the trip when you wake up you get the butterflies,” said Lt. Col. Neal Byrne of the Connecticut Air National Guard. “You feel the nerves. You want to come home and see your family. I’ve done this quite a few times, and it never gets easier, but it’s possible because of heroes like my wife.”
In total, about 130 members of the Connecticut Air National Guard returned from deployment this week.
“I think it’s actually tougher for the people that are home than for us,” said Lt. Col. Joshua Panis. “We’re doing the mission. It’s the same thing every day. I’m eating the same chopped chicken every day. What are you having for dinner tonight? Not chopped chicken.”
“We appreciate that they’re going to be home in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but we’ll truly be thinking about all the families that won’t be together during the holidays,” added Lindsay Panis.
