ALTOONA, BLAIR COUNTY - Members of the National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade arrived home on Monday.

About 700 local soldiers deployed for training last September, and then to Iraq in January. It's been a tough year for many of these soldiers, and their families.

Babies have been born, family members have passed away, and first wedding anniversaries came and went. These soldier's families say all of those things are in the past now, and they're just happy to see their loved ones again.

Several buses carrying our hometown heroes arrived at the Frankstown Armory in Altoona around 6:00 p.m. Monday evening.