LONGVIEW, TX — The East Texas men of the 721st Engineering Company of the U.S. Army Reserves enjoyed a special treat Wednesday after de-boarding a plane at the East Texas Regional Airport — friends, family and dozens of strangers hoisting flags and offering support.

Army Sgt. Dewayne Druschke and his men, William Cockerham, Matthew Brice and Steven Cantine, arrived at the airport about 11:30 a.m. after serving their country in Afghanistan since November 2011.

“These guys are amazing. It is always great to recognize a group of men who have served together,” said Anne DeLaet, the founder of Welcome Home Soldiers.

Their year-long tour brought a lot of changes in the lives of the men and their families.

Read more from the Longview News-Journal.