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CT National Guard 1048th Homecoming

Image No. 1 | Family and friends cheer as they see the commercial aircraft carrying the members of the Connecticut National Guard 1048th Transportation Company of Stratford come to a stop on their return from Afghanistan to Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013.

Family and friends cheer as they see the commercial aircraft carrying the members of the Connecticut National Guard 1048th Transportation Company of Stratford come to a stop on their return from Afghanistan to Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013.

Image No. 2 | Bob Hayes, left, of Glastonbury and his fellow members of the Patriot Guard Riders line up along the tarmac for the homecoming of the Connecticut National Guard 1048th Transportation Company of Stratford returning from Afghanistan to Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013.

Bob Hayes, left, of Glastonbury and his fellow members of the Patriot Guard Riders line up along the tarmac for the homecoming of the Connecticut National Guard 1048th Transportation Company of Stratford returning from Afghanistan to Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013.

Image No. 3 | Gov. Dannel P. Malloy welcomes members of the Connecticut National Guard 1048th Transportation Company of Stratford as they step off the plane on their return from Afghanistan to Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy welcomes members of the Connecticut National Guard 1048th Transportation Company of Stratford as they step off the plane on their return from Afghanistan to Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013.

Image No. 4 | Members of the Connecticut National Guard 1048th Transportation Company of Stratford step off the plane after returning from Afghanistan Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013.

Members of the Connecticut National Guard 1048th Transportation Company of Stratford step off the plane after returning from Afghanistan Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013.

Image No. 5 | Sgt. Major Roger Sicard, left, welcomes members of the Connecticut National Guard 1048th Transportation Company of Stratford as they step off the plane on their return from Afghanistan to Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013.

Sgt. Major Roger Sicard, left, welcomes members of the Connecticut National Guard 1048th Transportation Company of Stratford as they step off the plane on their return from Afghanistan to Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013.

Image No. 6 | As they spot Sgt. Jared Barile, his girlfriend, Melissa Peace, holds up his nephew, Giovanni Savelli, 4, so he can wave to him as he and members of the Connecticut National Guard 1048th Transportation Company of Stratford return from Afghanistan to Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013.

As they spot Sgt. Jared Barile, his girlfriend, Melissa Peace, holds up his nephew, Giovanni Savelli, 4, so he can wave to him as he and members of the Connecticut National Guard 1048th Transportation Company of Stratford return from Afghanistan to Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013.

Image No. 7 | Specialist Matthew Crudo of Stratford gets to know his daughter, Nora Crudo, 5 months, soon after meeting her for the first time after he and his fellow members of the Connecticut National Guard 1048th Transportation Company of Stratford returned from Afghanistan to Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013. Seven babies were born while the company was deployed.

Specialist Matthew Crudo of Stratford gets to know his daughter, Nora Crudo, 5 months, soon after meeting her for the first time after he and his fellow members of the Connecticut National Guard 1048th Transportation Company of Stratford returned from Afghanistan to Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013. Seven babies were born while the company was deployed.

Image No. 8 | Staff Sgt. Lasonya Jones of Stratford hugs and kisses her son Nassah Porter, 4, soon after returning with fellow members of the Connecticut National Guard company of Stratford from Afghanistan to Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013.

Staff Sgt. Lasonya Jones of Stratford hugs and kisses her son Nassah Porter, 4, soon after returning with fellow members of the Connecticut National Guard company of Stratford from Afghanistan to Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013.

Image No. 9 | Sgt. Albert Valdez of Meriden spends time with his son Albert Valdez Jr., 1, soon after he and his fellow members of the Connecticut National Guard 1048th Transportation Company of Stratford returned from Afghanistan to Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013. The last time Valdez saw his son, he was only 6 weeks old.

Sgt. Albert Valdez of Meriden spends time with his son Albert Valdez Jr., 1, soon after he and his fellow members of the Connecticut National Guard 1048th Transportation Company of Stratford returned from Afghanistan to Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013. The last time Valdez saw his son, he was only 6 weeks old.

Image No. 10 | Sgt. Forrest Burke of Vienna, Maine spends time with his son, Tucker Burke, 8 months, soon after meeting him for the first time and hearing that he is starting to try to walk, works with him to attempt a few steps. Burke had just returned with fellow members of the Connecticut National Guard 1048th Transportation Company of Stratford return from Afghanistan Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013 to Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby. Seven babies were born while the company was deployed.

Sgt. Forrest Burke of Vienna, Maine spends time with his son, Tucker Burke, 8 months, soon after meeting him for the first time and hearing that he is starting to try to walk, works with him to attempt a few steps. Burke had just returned with fellow members of the Connecticut National Guard 1048th Transportation Company of Stratford return from Afghanistan Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013 to Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby. Seven babies were born while the company was deployed.

Image No. 11 | Taya Deitelbaum, 4 months, of South Windsor is held by her uncle, First Sgt. William Gallucci of Windsor Locks, soon after meeting him for the first time after he and his fellow members of the Connecticut National Guard 1048th Transportation Company of Stratford returned from Afghanistan to Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013.

Taya Deitelbaum, 4 months, of South Windsor is held by her uncle, First Sgt. William Gallucci of Windsor Locks, soon after meeting him for the first time after he and his fellow members of the Connecticut National Guard 1048th Transportation Company of Stratford returned from Afghanistan to Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013.

The Connecticut National Guard 1048th Transportation Company of Stratford returns from Afghanistan to Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby Thursday, Aug. 15, 2013 . The company deployed in September 2012 and while in Afghanistan provided transportation of dry and refrigerated containerized goods, general noncontainerized goods, bulk water and bulk petroleum products.