AUBURN - A rainy afternoon could not dampen any spirits for the families and friends of local soldiers coming home from Iraq Tuesday.

In fact, some of them were happy for the wet weather.

“My wife told me she thinks the rain will look good,” said Roger Drew, of Oswego, who was waiting for his son, Alan. “He hasn't seen the rain since February.”

Hundreds of people filled the armory on South Street, waiting to greet the 222nd U.S. Army National Guard Military Police Unit as they returned from active duty. Some held up signs welcoming their loved ones back. Others waved American flags.

The Drews - who included Roger and his wife, Helen, his daughter-in-law, Heather, three grandsons and other family members - wore T-shirts with a picture of Alan and his dog that said “Welcome home. We missed you” on the front.

Many of the friends and family members had arrived more than an hour before the troops arrived, milling about the armory and chatting to pass the time. Every once in a while, someone would update the crowd by calling out the group's location.

“I'm so nervous, I can't even sit down,” said Brandy Bowie, of Auburn, while she waited to see her son Bryan. “I heard they were on (Interstate) 81 near Syracuse about a half-hour ago.”

The 222nd consists of almost 70 soldiers, 32 from Auburn and the rest from Hornell, in Steuben County. The unit left for training at Fort Dix Army Base in New Jersey Aug. 7, 2006. They were deployed to assist with Operation Iraqi Freedom on Oct. 27, 2006. They returned to Fort Dix last week.

Members of the unit marched into the armory at about 3:30 p.m., greeted by cheers and patriotic music played by a volunteer band. The welcome party had to wait until after the unit was officially dismissed before they were could greet and embrace the soldiers.

Sgt. Joshua Nowak, 26, of Syracuse, said the five-hour ride from New Jersey was filled with anticipation. Nowak's wife, Kristen, was at the armory when he arrived.

“I'm going to go home and spend time with my wife,” Joshua Nowak said. “That is the only box I have to check off.”

The Nowaks were married in Skaneateles on Sept. 27 of last year, so they spent their first anniversary on opposite sides of the world. But that did not stop them from celebrating. Joshua said Kristen sent some of the wedding cake to Iraq through the mail so they would each able to have a piece on the date.

“It actually wasn't too bad,” he said. “There was a lot of frosting on it.”

Private first-class Brittany Wade, 20, shared tear-filled hugs with her family - her mother Cindy, father David and sister Cayla and her grandparents. She said she is looking forward to a steak dinner with sweet corn for her first night back. She is also looking forward to her 21st birthday, which is on Halloween.

“But I think Cayla may be more excited about my birthday than me,” Wade said.

Wade was able to keep in contact with her family through the Internet and a satellite phone while she was overseas. Her time in Iraq would have been a lot harder without that support, she said.



“Along with God, my family is my rock,” Wade said. “Without them, I wouldn't have made it through.”

David Wade said he is grateful that he was able to keep in touch with his daughter over the past year, though nothing can replace her being home safe.

“When we would hear about American soldiers on the news, it was really nerve-racking,” David Wade said. “It was reassuring to be able to get a short call or even a text saying she was okay.”

Because the reception was limited to the families and close friends, local residents also stood in the rain along Genesee and South Streets in Auburn to greet the troops. Yellow ribbons were displayed along the route and Skaneateles and Mottville fire departments teamed up to hang a large American flag from their engine ladders for the soldiers to see.

Skaneateles resident Dave Miller knew it was important to show his support.

“I did want to pay tribute to these folks that have been over there doing a really tough job,” said Miller, who was an Army infantryman in the late 1950s. “I'm just here to pay my respects and show my appreciation.”

With him was a fellow Army veteran, Jeanette Gilmore. “I'm a veteran, too. It's rainy, no one else may be coming, but I knew I was going to be here,” she said.

Despite the downpour, there were a few dozen people along Genesee Street in Skaneateles waving and smiling to the returning National Guard troops.

Skaneateles resident Robin Hess-Rulli was there with her two children, 16-year-old Melissa and Michael, 11.

Like the others, Rulli felt it was important to take a little time from her busy schedule and welcome the soldiers home.

“We appreciate what they do and I think they should know it,” she said.

- Correspondent Erik Sorensen contributed to this report

Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.