Just a few days before the fourth anniversary of the war in Iraq, there's a happy homecoming for some hometown heroes.

About 50 marines returned home Saturday from an eight month long mission in the Horn of Africa.

Loved ones and friends greeted them at the marine center on Roberts Avenue.

The reunion was emotional for many of the military families and many say they can't wait to get back home.

Fath Moreano says, "We're gonna go home and he's gonna greet the kids, we have five so he's gonna get to spend time with them and just stay at the house and be at the house with the kids and us as a family."

The marines are part of the echo company anti-terrorism batallion...

They live all across the Florida panhandle, and are stationed in Tallahassee where they were trained and later deployed.