GRATITUDE: After nearly a year in Iraq, more than 200 soldiers from the 118th Maintenance Company settled back into life at home this week. After landing at Stockton Airport Friday morning, May 16, a motorcade carried the crew through the streets of Manteca and on to First Assembly of God Church, where they underwent three days of debriefing. Along the way, the men and women were greeted by thousands of flag-waving residents cheering their safe return. Above, a caravan of buses and military vehicles carried the troops past a gathering in downtown Manteca, where soldiers were welcomed with shouts of “thank you” and “welcome home.”

SAFE AND SOUND: Emotions ran high as soldiers disembarked from their plane at the Stockton Metropolitan Airport on Friday. Below, one soldier gives onlookers a thumbs-up while another salutes.

THE RED CARPET: At right, locals waited, flags in hand, for the soldiers to arrive at First Assembly of God Church, 486 Button Ave., in Manteca. The church was decked out with banners and plenty of stars and stripes, a “red carpet” welcome for the troops.