Andrew Marquis gets a hug from his nephew, Ryan Verrill of Lewiston, after members of the Maine Army National Guard’s 133rd Engineer Battalion returned home from Afghanistan on Friday.

Family and friends cheer as the Maine Army National Guard's 133rd Engineer Battalion that helped with the U.S. drawdown in Afghanistan returns home Friday in Augusta.

Staff Sgt. Dan Sweetser of Sumner, right, gets a kiss from his wife April.

Sgt. Casy Nash hugs his daughter Althea Nash, 2, and son Kyle Nash, 10, on Friday at the Augusta Armory. He had a large group of his family from Eddington there to greet him.

Sgt. Casy Nash hugs his daughter Althea Nash on Friday at the Augusta Armory.

Staff Sgt. Todd Perkins of Auburn gives his girlfriend Nicole Mailhot a hug.

Staff Sgt. Todd Perkins, of Auburn gives his girlfriend Nicole Mailhot a kiss.

Staff Sgt. Dan Sweetser is greeted by wife, April Sweetser, hidden by him, and their son Gabriel after he and other members of the Maine National Guard returned from a deployment in Afghanistan on Friday.

Nicole Mailhot hugs Staff Sgt. Todd Perkins.

An American flag flies between Winthrop and Augusta fire department ladder trucks as people wait for the bus carrying returning soldiers on Friday at the Augusta Armory.

A sign welcomes returning members of the Maine Army National Guard at the Augusta Armory on Friday.