Fort Carson Soldiers Return In Time For The Holiday

FORT CARSON, Colo. (CBS4) - This holiday weekend hundreds of Fort Carson soldiers are now back home.

The 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division arrived after a year-long deployment to Afghanistan.

Hugs and kisses were the hallmark to a warm welcome home. There was plenty of it late Saturday night at Fort Carson when the group of soldiers arrived to smiling faces.

"The reason why we're over there fighting is for our freedom and this kind of brings it full circle," a soldier said.

This weekend the Raider Brigade is arriving home in two separate waves, back into the loving arms of families -- families who have missed them dearly.

"It was hard in the beginning until you adjusted to being the only parent at home and the kids going to school," the wife of a soldier said. "But after a while you kind of adjust but you see others holding hands and hugging their spouse and you're always missing that part."

It's been a busy year, but now it will be a busy weekend catching up with the people back home

The next arrival of the Raider Brigage is scheduled for Tuesday at 1 a.m.

More than 700 soldiers returned to Fort Carson over the holiday weekend.