Freedom Salute Ceremony for NDNG Unit - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

55 National Guard members get a big "thank-you" for their year-long deployment in Kosovo.

The 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment returned home in September after serving on a NATO peacekeeping mission in Kosovo--for a year.

This morning, the airmen received recognition for either their first, second or third overseas deployment.

One man was honored for returning home from his fourth deployment.

Numerous awards were also given to family members, spouses and children of the soldiers and aviators.

Overall this freedom salute ceremony is a cause for celebration and thanks.

"Please stand and give a round of applause to the men and women of 1-112th." says Governor Jack Dalrymple.

"It feels good, it takes a lot for it to settle in, most people say thank you for your service, and all you can really say is thank you, you're the one that pushed me to do what I can, but no words can express how it feels emotionally." says Sgt. Tyler Sherman.

Sgt. Sherman's brother Bradley is still serving in Afghanistan with the 818th.

So while Tyler is enjoying his welcome home---he is excited to shake his brother's hand when he returns home safely as well.

"It's time for him to come home, I know he's feeling it, it's hard being here and then being where's the older brother at, he's always here, but there's nothing you can do but sit and wait." says Sgt. Sherman.

Gov. Dalrymple says this is the first time in 11 years that zero North Dakota Air National Guard units are deployed overseas.