Photos - Page 3

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Family and Families wait for the airplane carrying their Soldiers to arrive home.

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Eight-year-old Tommy Burbach and 7-year-old Danny Burbach hold a sign welcoming home their father, Illinois Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 2 Chris Burbach with their mother, Sam Burbach.

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Josiah Karnuth and Nina Harris hold a sign welcoming home their brother, Sgt. Eric Karnuth, from a deployment to the Middle East.

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Brig. Gen. Lenny Williams, the Assistant Adjutant General - Army of the Illinois National Guard and Commander of the Illinois Army National Guard, explains to the families the importance of what their Soldiers did to protect American forces in the Middle East.

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Illinois Army National Guard Sgt. Diego Santiago poses for a family photo with his 3-year-old son, Jacob Santiago, 1-year-old daughter, Juliette Santiago, and his partner and the children’s mother, Brendy Paz.

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Illinois Army National Guard Sgt. Owen Lange talks with his mother, Anne Lange, after returning from deployment.

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U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Patrick Kerr, public affairs superintendent at the 183d Wing, Illinois Air National Guard, poses for a photo during Northern Strike 26-1.

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U.S. Air Force Maj. Stephen Unverzagt, public affairs officer at the 183d Wing, Illinois Air National Guard, poses for a photo during Northern Strike 26-1.

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U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Noah Hardin, a public affairs specialist with the 182nd Airlift Wing, Illinois Air National Guard, poses for a photo during Northern Strike 26-1.

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U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Wynndermere Shaw, a public affairs specialist with the 182nd Airlift Wing, Illinois Air National Guard, poses for a portrait during Northern Strike 26-1.

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Illinois Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 4 Melissa Downey takes the oath of office during her promotion ceremony.

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Illinois Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 4 Melissa Downey's 16-year-old son, Luke Hiller, 'punches' Warrant Officer 4 rank on his mother's chest during Downey's promotion ceremony.

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Illinois Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 4 Melissa Downey presents flowers to her 20-year-old daughter, Leah Hiller, and 16-year-old son, Luke Hiller, during her promotion ceremony.

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Illinois Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 4 Melissa Downey hugs her niece, Kaelan Loftus, after her promotion.

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Illinois Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 4 Melissa Downey's 16-year-old son, Luke Hiller, 'punches' Warrant Officer 4 rank on his mother's chest during her promotion ceremony.

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Illinois Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 4 Melissa Downey is shown with her family after her promotion.

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Illinois Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 4 Melissa Downey is shown with her 20-year-old daughter, Leah Hiller, and 16-year-old son, Luke Hiller, after her promotion.

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Command Chief Master Sgt. Christopher Mertz of Troy, Ill., created a "Career Development Roadmap" to help Illinois Air National Guard Airmen progress.

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Command Chief Master Sgt. Christopher Mertz discusses professional development with a fellow Airman.

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Some of the many coins and badges Command Chief Master Sgt. Christopher Mertz has received during his decades of military service.

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