Sen. Mark Begich will be the first in line to shake the hands of members of the Alaska Army National Guard’s B Company, 1st Battalion, 143rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne) when they deplane in Indianapolis, Ind. after a year in Afghanistan today, Thursday, Nov. 8.

The approximately 120 soldiers are being in-processed through Camp Atterbury in Indianapolis on their way back to their home communities in Alaska, including Anchorage, Bethel, Chevak, Delta Junction, Dillingham, Eagle River, Ekwok, Emmonak, Fairbanks, Fort Greely, Hooper Bay, Houston, Juneau, Kipnuk, Kodiak, Kongiganak, Kwethluk, Little Diomede, Marshal, Nikiski, Nome, North Pole, Palmer, Port Graham, Quinaag, Scammon Bay, Shishmaref, Sitka, Tuluksa, Upper Kalskag, Valdez, Wasilla, and Wrangell.

The company’s year-long deployment to Kandahar, Farah and Zabul included supporting three provincial reconstruction teams. Begich was also on hand for B Company’s deployment, and said he’s pleased to be there for both ceremonies marking the company’s overseas service. In an entry in the Congressional Record, Sen. Begich wrote:

“Alaska has a special relationship with our military. That relationship started long before statehood during World War II with the Alaska Territorial Guard. Thousands of Alaska Natives voluntarily took up arms in defense of our nation and established a history of commitment and sacrifice that lives on in Alaska today. We are proud of the thousands of Alaskans, and especially Alaska Natives, who continue to volunteer to protect our homeland. As members of the Alaska Army National Guard, as Alaskans who have stood up for America, the members of Bravo Company carry on our state’s long legacy of service.”