On July 2 MAPS Air Museum opened its doors to help the Red Cross and USO of Northern Ohio host a Welcome Home reception for 138 soldiers from the 447th MP Company after their roughly 12-month stay in Afghanistan.
"The reunion was just fabulous," said Melissa Seibert, military outreach manager at the Stark County Chapter of the American Red Cross. "Of course everyone was emotional; a couple of dads got to see their babies for the first time."
Over 300 family members were present at the reception, some of whom painted signs that hung at the museum.
The Red Cross set up a refreshments table and handed out Welcome Home information packets to soldiers and their families.
"When we're notified, we're there," said Seibert regarding the Red Cross's presense at such events.
With the return of the 447th coinciding so closely with the Fourth of July, emotions ran especially high, according to Seibert.
"Emotions run high on the Fourth of July, anyway, because you are celebrating America's freedom," said Seibert. "And these are America's freedom fighters."
"The reunion was just fabulous," said Melissa Seibert, military outreach manager at the Stark County Chapter of the American Red Cross. "Of course everyone was emotional; a couple of dads got to see their babies for the first time."
Over 300 family members were present at the reception, some of whom painted signs that hung at the museum.
The Red Cross set up a refreshments table and handed out Welcome Home information packets to soldiers and their families.
"When we're notified, we're there," said Seibert regarding the Red Cross's presense at such events.
With the return of the 447th coinciding so closely with the Fourth of July, emotions ran especially high, according to Seibert.
"Emotions run high on the Fourth of July, anyway, because you are celebrating America's freedom," said Seibert. "And these are America's freedom fighters."
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