Staff Sgt. Orlando Ornelas kisses his wife Camille during the return ceremony for the National Guard's 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team troops at the National Guard Base on Thursday, March 15, 2012, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
Paul Hellstern and Chris Landsberger have each photographed two troop returning ceremonies this month. These events are filled with intense emotion and are usually wonderful to cover. Here are some of Chris and Paul’s pictures, along with links to photo galleries from the four different ceremonies:
Sgt. Thomas Leach hugs his two-year-old son Noah, as soldiers from the 45th return from a year's deployment in Afghanistan to waiting family members in Oklahoma City, Saturday, March 3, 2012. By Paul Hellstern, The Oklahoman
ohn Farrow welcomes home his son Justin during the return ceremony for more than 200 National Guard 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team troops at the National Guard Base on Monday, March 12, 2012, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
Soldiers stand in formation during the return ceremony for the National Guard's 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team troops at the National Guard Base on Thursday, March 15, 2012, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
Cpl. Joseph English gets a hug from his grandmother Barbara English as Oklahoma National Guard soldiers return from Afghanistan to a welcome home ceremony in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, March 13, 2012, By Paul Hellstern, The Oklahoman
Jeff Lawson hugs his mother Jean during the return ceremony for the National Guard's 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team troops at the National Guard Base on Thursday, March 15, 2012, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman