It was going to take more than a little rain, snow and ice to postpone a huge homecoming that`s been more than a year in the making. An anxious crowd filled the bottom floor of the Bismarck Airport when 47 soldiers from the 188th Air Defense Artillery Security Forces Unit landed early this afternoon. They`ve been serving in Afghanistan since December 2005.

Family and friends outnumbered them by more than ten to one. The soldiers say the work they did in Afghanistan and the big homecoming earlier today hasn`t quite hit them yet.

"I obviously didn`t expect this many people, but the outpouring of people was incredible," says Amanda Ostile, a returning soldier. "The loudness and you could hear it right when you were coming down the tunnel and everybody just, it was incredible."

The welcome home celebration for the 188th Air Defense Artillery Security Force`s Unit was a chance to begin the process of reconnecting after being apart for over a year. Overwhelming pride from families filled the Bismarck Airport.

"She just set a good example what when you are called to do something, especially something for protecting all of our freedoms, that you need to be willing to sacrifice to do it," says Laura Murphy, Ostile`s sister.

It was the first time these North Dakotans could embrace each other since the soldiers left for Afghanistan.

"I`m really happy that she`s back home and I just feel like I have goosebumps," says Sydney Murphy, Ostile`s niece.

While the experience hasn`t yet sunk in for all the returning soldiers, one who returned months ago to receive treatment for his injuries says he`s learned an important lesson.

"Life is short," says injured soldier Sam Floberg. "You just gotta live it and don`t sit on the sidelines. After I got hit on Thanksgiving, now I`m just balls to the wall."

Friends of the SECFOR unit say it`s been a long road.

"Just taking one day at a time and getting to know each other again and trying to go through those steps," says Kirstin Schumacher, girlfriend of returning soldier Casey Wilheim. "I`m very excited."

For now, soldiers and their loved-ones say grabbing a slice of sausage pizza, or, "I really want a chocolate shake right now," says Ostile. "I can definitely handle one of those." is the perfect way to spend some quality time. Sixty-two others arrived in Grand Forks this afternoon.