Coming Home: A hero's welcome

Coming Home: A hero's welcome

homecoming2We love our homecomings. When Marines aboard MCAS Beaufort are on deployment, one of the warmest, most happy of human moments are when our brave heroes come home after a 6 month period that, for many, seems like an eternity. Families have spent months looking forward to this moment: Reunion. After all that build-up, it’s always a magical moment.

VMFA-312 returned to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort from deployment to the Western Pacific as part of the Unit Deployment Program on Tuesday. During their deployment, they participated in bilateral exchanges, exercises, and theater security and cooperation events based at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan and in Guam. The Checkerboards have been deployed since July 8th. VMFA-312 is with Marine Aircraft Group 31 (MAG-31).

Local photographer/artist Emily Scott Pack had the honor of accompanying a family as their husband and father returned home. Here, she captured their joy in homecoming in photos:

Emily writes, “I am so over the moon for this amazing family. Their Daddy has finally come home. What an overwhelming joy it must be to have your heart and soul home in your arms again. I’m so excited for Hannah and their kids to have their Hero in arm’s reach when ever they need him. I hope y’all are having a magical day together. Last night was Beautiful watching you reunite. Thank you for letting me be there to document this moment in your lives. Thank you ALL for all your sacrifice, hard work and dedication that you give to keep this country safe.”

See more from Emily on her blog, here.

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Where we love is home,
Home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.
~Oliver Wendell Holmes