It's homecoming time for more than 500 Minnesota National Guard soldiers, many of whom will be returning to Rochester, Austin, Winona and Owatonna after service in Iraq and Kuwait.
The soldiers from 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division are scheduled to return Monday and Tuesday.
"The seventh and eighth waves of 1st Brigade Combat Team soldiers are scheduled to arrive late tonight and Tuesday afternoon," said Army Lt. Col. Rick T. Schute, officer in charge for 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Red Bull Infantry Division.
In Rochester, one group is scheduled to arrive by bus at 12:15 a.m. Tuesday at the Rochester Armory, 1715 Marion Road S.E., and another group is scheduled to arrive at 3:50 p.m. on Tuesday at the armory.
"We are very proud of the brigade's accomplishments in supporting the final phase of the Iraq War during Operation New Dawn," said Schute. "Please join us at the armories to welcome these groups home."
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Organizers describe the ceremonies at the armories as being brief to allow the soldiers to join their families.
"We don't want to stand in the way of these families reconnecting," said Paul Spyhalski, chairman of the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon group in Austin.
Other arrivals and sites in the region include:
• 2:25 p.m., Tuesday, Owatonna Armory, 2323 W. Bridge St.
• 3:20 p.m., Tuesday, Austin Armory, 800 21st St. N.E.
• 5:20 p.m., Tuesday, Winona Armory, 1303 Homer Road
