Connecticut Army National Guardsmen Welcomed Home for Thanksgiving

The best Thanksgiving gift ever!

The 192nd Military Police Battalion Headquarters happily walked down the steps of their aircraft onto Connecticut soil returning from deployment where they spent months at base Guantanamo Bay, according to NBC Connecticut.

Sgt. Josh Odell held his son while saying he didn't think this time was ever going to come. The CT Army National Guard unit was deployed in January just before the pandemic began to ramp up. PFC Matthew DiVergilio told NBC Connecticut,

This is my first deployment. I'm back now. It feels good. Obviously, it's going to be a little weird with the Corona stuff, getting used to it. But I'm just glad to be back right now.

Loved ones had to stay in their vehicles, but they brought signs and laid on their horns when their soldier's plane landed. Maj. Gen. Francis Evon, Adjutant General and commanding officer of the Connecticut National Guard, was elated by how the Guardsmen fulfilled their duties overseas and exceeded the standards, especially during an advancing world pandemic.

Governor Lamont was incredibly proud to welcome home the 192nd Military Police Battalion beaming with pride as he mentioned "how much of a critical partner the Guard has been throughout this pandemic-from testing, to building hospitals to distributing PPE, we cannot thank the men and women of our National Guard enough."