Patuxent River Naval Air Station continued its tradition of celebrating veterans' return home with grand style and ceremony. On Thursday, Jan. 29, 27 men and women returned home after months being deployed abroad.

They returned to cheers and the adoration of their peers, family and friends.

These extraordinary men and women served as what the military calls individual augmentees, or IAs. 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.

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 to our freedoms.

Returning home were HN Kwasi Kusi who served on Camp Lemonier, HN Daniel Still, also serving on Camp Lemonier, HN Jewell Verdejo, another from Camp Lemonier, AE3 John Curley who served in Iraq, AT3 Justin Tull served on Camp Bucca, Iraq, AZ2 Miguel Arboleda who served in Balad, Iraq, AO2 Corey Chandler, another from Camp Bucca, Iraw, AO2 Korey Dismus, Camp Bucca, Iraq, MA2 Adam Fancher, from Iraq, ABE2 Nathan Foust, Camp Bucca, AM2 Joshua Guyer, Camp Bucca, AO2 Audys Perez, Iraq, AD2 Darrell Powell, Iraq, AO2 Paul Toner, Camp Bucca, SK2(SW) Hans Yu, Camp Bucca, SK1(SW) Colleen Frederick, Afghanistan, AO1 Frank Salazar, Afghanistan, AOC Michael Bruns, Iraq, CTTC(SW/NAC) Neftali Vargas, FOB Callhan, Baghdad, Iraq, LT Kyle Guilfoyle, Iraq, LT Timothy Schul, Bahgdad, Iraq, LCDR Khary Bates, Iraq, LCDR Alexander Dutko, Kubul, Afghanistan, LCDR Asid Lodhi, Afghanistan, Maj. Shad Lodhi (USAF Reserve) Qatar, LCDR Wade Rindy, Iraq and CDR Grant Graessle, Iraq.

TBN was there to record the ceremony. Enjoy these shots of the returning heroes.