Patuxent River Naval Air Station continued its tradition of celebrating veterans’ return home with grand style and ceremony. On Thursday, June. 4, men and women returned home after months being deployed abroad.
The men and women were welcomed home to the sounds of cheers and adoration from peers, family and friends.
These extraordinary men and women served as what the military calls individual augmentees, or IA’s. Most did tours of duty in the war-torn streets of Iraq and Afghanistan, some worked in support of the U.S. military’s efforts in the region from Kuwait, Africa and elsewhere.
Then, after serving their country for a year or more, these stalwart members of the Navy and the Marines were reunited with their families and their colleagues.
During the ceremony, the anniversary of the Battle of Midway was remembered as the date marked the beginning of one of the ultimate battles which finally evened the odds for US Naval Forces battling the Japanese Navy which until that time, had essentially ruled the Pacific waters.
PAX NAS was the first such base to hold this type of welcoming home ceremony for returning veterans, but now the ceremonies are being duplicated at bases all across the U.S to demonstrate how much their fellow countrymen and women appreciate their sacrifices for our freedoms.
