A homecoming ceremony for Minnesota National Guard soldiers of the 849th Mobility Augmentation Co. will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in the Civic Arena.

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau and Minnesota National Guard Adjutant Gen. Larry Shellito are scheduled to speak, as well as 682nd Engineer Battalion commander Lt. Col. Daniel Hoben and company commander Capt. Jeff Smith.

Camp Ripley will honor soldiers and their families with special activities as part of Soldiers and Families Appreciation Day, beginning at 4 p.m. Saturday, June 21.  This event is free, in appreciation for Soldiers and their families'
service to our country.

Communities around Meeker County took time to honor military men and women who gave their lives in service to their country on Memorial Day. People gathered at the Forest City Veterans Memorial Sunday, as well as Ripley Cemetery on Monday for the 118th annual Litchfield Memorial Day program. Click here to see a slideshow of photos from the events.

Area communities on Monday will honor U.S. military men and women who have given their lives in service to their country.

Monday will be Litchfield’s 118th Memorial Day observation. Events begin at 8 a.m. with a prayer service at Calvary Cemetery.

A Memorial Day parade, featuring the American Legion Nelsan-Horton Post 104, VFW Post 2818, National Guard soldiers, Litchfield Marching Band and other civic organizations, will start at 9:15 a.m. in Central Park. The parade will proceed west on Third Street and south on Swift Avenue to South Park.

The Minnesota National Guard 849th Mobility Augmentation Co. returned to Litchfield April 30 after an 11-month deployment with Operation Iraqi Freedom. Nearly 100 soldiers were dismissed to the waiting arms of family and friends after the brief Welcome Home ceremony. View a slideshow of the event here.

Dressed in fatigues and fresh off a five-hour bus ride from Fort McCoy, Wis., 94 Minnesota National Guards soldiers stood stiff and straight at attention inside the Litchfield Armory Wednesday.

Twenty feet away, a solid white line taped to the floor separated hundreds of anxious family and friends who couldn't stand still in the crowded armory, as they attempted to catch a glimpse of their soldiers.

They waved flags and snapped pictures. Some clutched signs. Others shook in anticipation. And a few couldn’t hold back the tears of relief.