SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — A welcome home ceremony was held to thank the 114th Fighter Wing of the South Dakota Air National Guard after spending three months overseas.
299 deployed airmen received a large thank you in Sioux Falls.
“This is a great opportunity to recognize the contributions of our Airmen, local airmen that stayed back and also our friends and family that stayed back and provide that support,” 175th Fighter Squadron Commander Eric Cleveringa said.
The airmen spent three months at the Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa, Japan.
“We were there for three months projecting agile combat air power,” Cleveringa said.
For MacKenzie Krcil, this is something she’s done before.
“I just got back from a deployment overseas, and I was there by myself, MacKenzie Krcil said.
However, this time, she was able to go with her sister Ashlyn.
“Being able to go to Japan with a family member was awesome. We were able just to have that family support. There’s always someone there to like lean on,” MacKenzie said.
But the sisters are excited to be home.
“The deployment was a really great trip and a really great learning experience, but I’m happy to be home and head back to school at SDSU and start my nursing career this fall,” Ashlyn Krcil said.
The ceremony was a great place for the deployed airmen to look back and recognize all they accomplished in Japan.
