LEWISTON – An Army couple with ties to the area made some special memories Friday morning they’ll carry with them when they return to Iraq next week.

Thanks to her Aunt Mary, Sarah Tiberio and her husband, Nick, took to the skies in the first balloon launched at the Great Falls Balloon Festival.

“I’m excited,” Sarah said, and a little nervous. “We’re both excited,” her husband said, adding he was not nervous. The balloon, piloted by Gary Morgan of Bedford, N.H., left the ground as the crowd applauded and cheered.

The couple are both stationed in Baqubah, Iraq, in different units. She’s a medic with the 201st Forward Support Co.; he works at the brigade headquarters. They’ve been in Iraq for six months and will go back for another six months.

Sarah, 25, grew up in Hebron and has family in New Auburn. Her husband grew up in Pennsylvania. It was his first festival, and the first ride for both of them.

The couple are home on emergency leave after the unexpected death of Sarah’s sister, Angela Jutras, 26. A benefit supper will be held tonight at the New Auburn Legion Hall, said her aunt Mary Ramich, adding that Angela left behind a 3-year-old son.

The ride materialized after Sarah told her aunt she wanted to go up in a balloon. “She said she’d try to get us a ride,” Sarah said. Aunt Mary pulled through.

At 6:30 a.m. the couple climbed into the basket, all smiles as they waited for liftoff.

Nick later described the flight as fun and “smooth… like there was weightlessness. We had an excellent view over Lewiston. The crew and pilot were friendly.”

They landed with no problems in a ball field, where a group gathered.

On Thursday, the couple will head back to Iraq. They’ll carry special memories of the festival, and said they’ll show off their photos to fellow soldiers, Nick said. “We took pictures from the air and ground. We definitely will memorize this experience and talk about it for years.”