Cheering the returning soldiers

1-year-old Alexis Johanningmeier, the daughter of Miles Johanningmeier

With blue skies and record-setting temperatures, Tuesday afternoon in Decorah was a great time for a parade.

So a large crowd gathered along Water Street to cheer on the members of the 322nd Engineering Battalion as their buses returned to Decorah after the end of the unit's one year deployment in Afghanistan.

1-year-old Alexis Johanningmeier of Decorah was there to welcome back his father, Miles.  The Munkel and Malli families from Cresco were there to welcome back Mary Malli.  Relatives of Taylor Wood of Waukon and Jacob Estebo of Lansing were on hand to cheer.

Just a little after 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, the charter buses arrived in Decorah from Indiana and drove past a huge American flag strung across Water Street by the Decorah Fire Department.  The buses drove the length of Water Street, then headed for the Army Reserve Center, where the solders got off the buses, to be greeted by family members.

(Left to right): Am Hagen, Kortney Wood, Becki Estebo, Kaela Wood, Nolan Hagen, Logan Wood and Michelle Wood getting ready to welcome back Taylor Wood and Jacob Estebo

(Left to right): Kevin Munkel, Julie Munkel, Emily Malli, Torrie Munkel, Mylissa Malli-Munkel and Tanner Munkel--all of Cresco