PONTIAC - Fifteen Pontiac-based Illinois National Guardsmen are celebrating reunions after a long year in Afghanistan.

The emotional return of Pontiac's 106th Cavalry was ushered in by Patriot Guard Riders and welcomed Wednesday with waving flags, cheers and tears.
 
The sense of relief in the air was thick and felt strongly from Specialist Michael Burgess.

"[This is ] wonderful, just wonderful," said Burgess as he lifted his one year old son, Tallin, into his arms.

Burgess is welcomed by long-time friends, and his wife of barely one year, Krysta.

"It's just a rush, it gives me chills up my spine! I got goosebumps!" exclaimed Krysta.

"I'm just overwhelmed. It's been so hard, it's been the longest year of my life," she cried.

Since Michael was deployed weeks after his wedding and days after Tallin was born, the couple have some serious bonding in order.

"We haven't had that, we've only been married, actually our anniversary is this Sunday and we haven't been together the whole marriage," smiled Krysta.

Meanwhile Michael's sister's relief is met by his grandmother's.

"We're excited aren't we, are you glad to have your uncle back?" asked Kathy nodding with her daughter.

Michael's grandmother, Kathy Evans, pushed back heart surgery to make sure she was here to welcome her "grand baby" home.

 "My heart's thumping 100 miles an hour but i'm very glad they got home. They wanted me to go back in the hospItal again and i said not going to until my grandson comes home!" smiled Evans.

Michael spent the year training Afghan police, and says he has no regrets.

 "Not everyone can say they went over there and did that. So it was nice being able to help the people over there, hopefully they get a secure place to live," said Michael. 

As for how those closest to him feel about the war

"At first i wanted to be angry. Then i thought to myself i can't be angry at them, they need help just as well as anyone else," nodded Krysta.

An understanding that makes having Michael home that much more rewarding.

The soldiers were apart of the largest overseas deployment of the Illinois National Guard since World War II.