- February 21, 2025
There were many "first kisses" as the soldiers arrived home from a year deployment at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan. Photo by Jacque Estes
Flags flew high as hundreds gathered at Sheltair Aviation in Daytona Beach to welcome home the National Guard unit based in Flagler. Photo by Jacque Estes
Wives, moms and children jumped into their loved ones arms at Sheltair Aviation on Thursday, March. 10. The soldiers were returning from Afghanistan. Photo by Jacque Estes
Ormond Strong cheers as the first plane touches down in Daytona Beach on Thursday, March 10. Photo by Jacque Estes
Flagler County Commissioners Nate McLaughlin, George Hanns and Frank Meeker were on hand to welcome returning soldiers on Thursday, March 10 in Daytona Beach. Photo by Jacque Estes
No words were needed for Debbie Kruck-Forrester and her husband Tim, moments after he got off the second plane arriving from Bagram Airfield. Photo by Jacque Estes
Flags, banners and smiles filled the airfield in Daytona Beach on Thursday, March 10. Photo by Jacque Estes
Long awaited homecoming in Daytona Beach on Thursday, March 10. Photo by Jacque Estes
Debbie Kruck-Forrester and her husband Tim, moments after he got off the second plane arriving from Bagram Airfield. Photo by Jacque Estes
A "daddy's girl" jumps into his arms on Thursday, March 10 in Daytona Beach. Photo by Jacque Estes
The first group of soldiers deplane on Thursday, March 10. Photo by Jacque Estes
A water cannon salute welcomed both planes home in Daytona Beach on Thursday, March 10. Photo by Jacque Estes
Hundreds gathered to welcome home soldiers from Bagram Airfield on Thursday, March 10. Photo by Jacque Estes
Homemade signs welcomed soldiers home in Daytona Beach on Thursday, March 10. Photo by Jacque Estes
Flags in both hands, a little boy is hoisted on an adult's shoulders for a better view at Sheltair Aviation on Thursday, March 10. Photo by Jacque Estes
A prayer circle formed prior to the arrival of the two planes bringing soldiers home from Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan. Photo by Jacque Estes
Susan Bank, Cathy Heighter, and Janie Rocke didn't have relatives on the planes, but their continued support of the troops and veterans brought them to the airfield in Daytona Beach on Thursday, March 10. Photo by Jacque Estes
Camo, short for camouflage, was one of many pups brought to the airfield on Thursday, March 10, to greet returning soldiers. Photo by Jacque Estes
Kipton Brown counts the stars on his flag as he waits for a family freind to arrive from Afghanistan on Thursday, March 10. Photo by Jacque Estes
Sarah, Charlie and Kipton Brown of Ormond Beach wait for Charlie's co-worker, Stephen Bumb to arrive from Afghanistan on Thursday, ,March 10. Photo by Jacque Estes
They may have been strangers, but the several hundred people who gathered at the Sheltair Aviation runway in Daytona Beach on Thursday, March 10, had a lifetime bond. They all had loved ones returning from a year deployment in Afghanistan.
Eyes turned toward every plane approaching and there were groans of disappointment when it wasn't one of the planes they had come to greet. But finally, the first plane appeared on the horizon and touched down, coasting through a water cannon salute provided by two fire engines. The second plane, arriving about 20 minutes later,was redirected to a runway behind the crowd and actually managed to “sneak up” on the group scanning the skies at the other end of the runway.
Families had driven from throughout Florida, including Tampa, Cocoa Beach, and Orlando to welcome the soldiers and take them where they really wanted to be – home.
There were also some local and very familiar faces like the Ormond Strong group who has walked the Ormond Beach Bridge every day since their men and women were deployed one year ago.
The unit returning from Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan was the National Guard Unit based out of the Flagler County Airport.
Debbie Kruck-Forrester, who lives in Palm Coast and works in Ormond Beach, stayed in perpetual motion making sure everything was perfect, until her husband, Sgt. 1st class Tim Forrester, descended the stairs of the second plane. Then she sprinted across the tarmac and into his arms in an embrace that Hollywood would be hard pressed to improve upon.
The two didn't speak. Their passionate kiss and embrace said it all.
Janie Rocke welcomed her son home from his service in Iraq many years ago; but she also had a bond with these soldiers – she had written to them.
“When my son was over there I wrote to him every day,” Rocke said. “Some soldiers weren't getting mail and I was determined my son wasn't going to be one of those.”
She began making contacts online and writing to other soldiers so they would have mail, something she continues today.
“When Debbie (Kruck-Forrester) started the first letter writing thing at the library I told her, 'you are going to find some that don't get mail,'” Rocke said. “I still write letters every week.”
The Brown family, Charlie, Sarah and their son Kipton stretched a vinyl banner between them welcoming Stephen Bumb, of Ormond Beach, home.
“Stephen is a coworker at Florida Hospital Oceanside Peninsula Rehabilitation,” Charlie Brown said. “Everyone who works with him signed this banner. We will be happy to get him back. This is his third deployment.”
Cathy Heighter and her sister Susan Banks of Palm Coast came to greet the soldiers home even though they didn't have anyone on the plane.
"This is so important because I spend my time honoring all of our veterans, and it's also in honor of my own son's service and sacrifice,” Heighter said. “I lost him in 2003 in Iraq and since that time I have spent my life honoring our veterans and military men. I am a Gold Star mom and it's an honor for me to be out here.”
