BANGOR (AP) – Members of the 112th Medical National Guard unit returned home to Maine on Tuesday after spending the past year in Iraq.

The 112th, based in Bangor, had a call-up of 149 members last March. They returned to Fort Drum, N.Y., last week.

They arrived in Maine in the afternoon in a police-escorted caravan of buses, and arrived in Bangor at night.

At a stop at the Maine Turnpike rest area in Kennebunk, the guardsmen were greeted with cheers and hugs by a handful of flag-waving well-wishers.

James Braley said he’s missed Maine and the tour in Iraq was difficult.

“We all came back and that’s the most important thing,” he said.

AP-ES-04-06-04 2257EDT