Marine Reservists based in Garden City with the 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment (2/25) returned home Aug. 3 after duty in Iraq. Family and friends welcomed them as they arrived at the base at 605 Stewart Avenue by bus with police escort from Camp Lejeune, NC.

Activated in March, the Marines were in Iraq for the duration of Operation Iraqi Freedom and served with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (1MEF), Task Force Tarawa, and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (15th MEU).

When President George Bush announced an end to all major conflict in May 2/25 remained in An-Nasiriya to help rebuild the city's infrastructure. The more than 100 police officers who serve in the reserve unit played a vital role in re-establishing An-Nasiriya's police force.

2/25 was activated for one year in January 2002 and spent their activation at Camp Lejeune, NC in operation-tempo relief for the 2nd Marine Division.