A bouquet of balloons is part of the greeting Dana Haynes had prepared for his son, a member of a Virginia Beach-based military police company.

Photos by REBECCA BARNETT The Roanoke Times

Peggy Carroll of Blacksburg hugs her granddaughter, Spec. Casey Collins, at Roanoke's Patrick Henry High School after the servicewoman's mission to Iraq was completed. "It was like a miracle came true, her coming back home safely," Carroll said of the soldier, whose unit has been deployed since last year.

Here's how the homecoming of the 229th Military Police Company of the Virginia National Guard looked Thursday in the parking lot of Roanoke's Patrick Henry High School:

First came the rumbling motorcycles of the flag-toting Patriot Guard Riders.

Then came a big white bus followed by a police escort with blue lights flashing.

Then came the hugs, kisses and tears as people standing in the shade by the high school wall, who'd waited since October for the 229th to return from Iraq, came into the hot sun and welcomed the camouflage-clad men and women.

The best part: Everyone came back. No Virginia Guard members were killed or injured during the 229th's tour, Lt. Scott Campbell said.

"It's like a miracle. It's like a blessing to have him back," said Jessica Downing of Roanoke, who'd come to greet her nephew, Cpl. David Downing, a 24-year-old who has twice interrupted studies at Virginia Military Institute to deploy overseas.

The 229th is based in Virginia Beach, and most of the unit's members ended their deployment there Thursday. But 37 reservists from Western Virginia rode to Patrick Henry, where they walked into the gym and stood in formation for the last time during this mission.

Maj. Steve Funkhouser kept his remarks brief.

"Your service is welcomed and greatly appreciated," he said.

There were a few sentences more, then a quick "Hooah!" from a Veterans of Foreign Wars commander, then Funkhouser rapped out, "Dismissed!"

"They don't need a lot of words. They just need to get home," he said.

More hugs, tears and photos ensued.

The 229th guarded convoys and trained Iraqi police during the mission. The unit provided security for Vice President Joe Biden's visit to Iraq in January. Members replaced windows and made other improvements at a school in Baghdad and at a hospital, a statement released by the Virginia National Guard said.

"It's a big relief to be back," said Spec. Timothy Huffman of Covington, who in regular life is an officer at Augusta Correctional Center. He said he had three months to transition back to his job, "but I'll probably go back before that."

Downing, who left VMI to go to Kosovo in 2006 and 2007, said his classmates graduated last year. He planned to start school again next month, "hopefully to graduate this time."

When his degree is done, he plans to enter the active Army service "and do this full time."

Downing said he would like his next deployment to be to Germany, "or the beach!"