Central Illinois families welcomed home the 33rd Infantry Brigade Team with the Illinois National Guard at Assembly Hall Monday.

The brigade returned home from ten months of service in Afghanistan. About 500 family members and friends attended the ceremony.

Gov. Pat Quinn, who spoke at the ceremony, said he was proud of the men and the women in the National Guard.

“Over 2,000 of our Guard members went to Afghanistan to the gates of Hell,” he said.

Quinn said he was at Fort Bragg, N.C., where preliminary training for the 33rd Brigade took place. He said it was a very difficult process.

“The best thing is seeing the emotional reunions of the families and their loved ones,” he said.

Stephanie McCurry, public affairs coordinator for the Illinois National Guard, said this was the first time since returning that the soldiers would see their families.

McCurry said the soldiers first arrived in Fort McCoy, Wisc. before returning to the central Illinois area. There they took part in the demobilization process, which included getting shots and turning in army gear.

“I’m so glad to have them back, and particularly fellow soldiers who served with me,” said Garret Anderson, a retired army sergeant and coordinator for a troop support program. Anderson said he worked with his wife to provide information to the families of the soldiers.

Anderson said his support group informed the soldiers’ families about the status of the troops overseas and important updates about how the soldiers were doing.

Family members and friends in attendance said they were excited to finally see their loved ones back home.

Jeanie Herring, a Tuscola resident, welcomed home her son-in-law back to the states. She said the best thing about his return is that he could finally come home to his wife.

“She had to celebrate her one year without him,” Herring said. “We’re glad that he’s back for her.”

Sgt. Tom Tyler, a medic with a unit that returned earlier this year, said he is happy to see his fellow troops returning home and remarked that service in Afghanistan was not bad.

“To me it really wasn’t that bad. Where I stayed I had three good meals a day, a decent place to sleep, and usually had access to Internet,” Tyler said.

Many soldiers had wives and small children waiting for them.

“The best thing about coming back is seeing my family,” said Paul Ogwal, one of the returning soldiers.

Kristin Wyatt, a returning soldier, said she was just excited to be back home.

She said she is looking forward to planning her Jan. wedding with her fiance.

John Fundator, a University alumnus and communications associate at the University of Illinois Foundation, said he was glad to welcome home his two friends.

“One year is an awfully long time,” he said. “We’re happy that they’re back.”

Fundator said he was also a part of the National Guard and served with his returning comrades.

“It was such a large deployment from Illinois and they’re coming back in drips and drabs,” he added. “We’re glad to see ’em.”