Waves of Guard soldiers home for the holidays

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Hundreds of Indiana National Guard soldiers have returned to the state just in time for Christmas. They’ve been arriving in waves from Iraq, into the arms of their loved ones.

A unit from Shelby County arrived at Stout Field in Indianapolis just before noon Tuesday.

Much earlier in the morning, hundreds of other Hoosiers waited patiently at Stout Field for their soldiers to return. Four-year-old Louis Gallegos waited patiently for hours for his dad’s return. He has been part of an Indiana National Guard unit training Iraqi police. It has not been easy to have him gone.

“A lot of rough nights and him getting sick and a trip to the emergency room,” said Lenore Gallegos, Louis’ mother. “But we made it through. This is our second deployment.”

For many military families, it has been a difficult year.

“They’ve experienced every emotion from happiness to sadness,” said Indiana National Guard Master Sergeant Michael Seitz. “Some of them even may be experiencing depression and anxiety.”

After a year’s wait, they waited a little longer Tuesday morning, patiently enduring one small delay after another. Then, the 170 soldiers came marching in.

Once he got hold of her, Jake Wallen couldn’t let go of his new wife, Lynzi. They just got married in June.

“We actually got married on leave, we got married and I had to leave her again, but now it’s back,” Wallen said. “Now I got it back.”

Moms held their sons and wouldn’t let go. Dads kissed babies they hadn’t seen nearly enough during the past year. And one little boy’s mom helped him make his way through a sea of uniforms – to find the one person who would make his Christmas complete.

Louis Gallegos held his four-year-old son, kissed him, and posed while his wife took a photo of the two of them -- a picture perfect ending to more than one season of waiting.

“That’s the best Christmas present ever,” said Lenore Gallegos.