Yellow, red, white and blue balloons along with “Welcome home” posters adorned the walls of Landmark Banquet & Conference on Wednesday to celebrate the return of Iowa’s 394 Corps Support Battalion.

The battalion spent 10 months in Kuwait’s Camp Virginia and maintained an army base camp to support American and coalition combat soldiers from 33 countries.

Rep. Tom Latham, R-Iowa, opened the ceremony at Landmark, 56772 241st St., by thanking the soldiers and their families for their sacrifice.

“This country is blessed because of their service and sacrifice,” Latham said. “Thank you very much, and welcome home.”

The ceremony also included remarks from Ames City Councilman Daryle Vegge, several Army officers and a benediction and prayer for the soldiers and their families.

“Thank you for protecting the constitution of the United States against all enemies, both foreign and domestic,” said Col. William Scott.

Awards were given to the reserves Tuesday in Fort Riley, Kan.

“Generally, when units are welcomed back, it’s very, very brief,” said Russell Gurrier, Army reserve ambassador. “And the euphoria in the room is palpable. It’s just a happy occasion.”

Other units from Iowa were welcomed with similar ceremonies when they returned earlier this year, Gurrier said.

“For many of you, this Veteran’s Day will likely have more meaning,” Scott said. “I salute you and your service. You are the guardians of freedom. May God continue to bless you, your families and the United States of America.”

Sgt. Taray Anderson of Waterloo said between 50,000 and 60,000 people went through the battalion’s camp in Kuwait.

Anderson, 21, will return to Iowa State for the spring semester as a sophomore after serving in the army for two years. He said being in the army was something he felt he needed to do.

“I had to serve my country,” Anderson said.

“It’s not a choice.”

Anderson said he appreciated such a warm welcome back to Iowa — a turnaround from the way returning veterans were treated in the past, like after the Vietnam War.

“In those days, being in the military was a lot harder,” he said. “When a lot of the soldiers came home, they didn’t get welcomed. These days, it’s such a warm welcome. America supports us now more than ever.”

Sgt. Jennifer Barbon of Altoona said she is glad to be back in Iowa, although she will probably return to Kuwait or another peacekeeping station in the future.

“For right now, we’re back here,” Barbon said. “I still have four years in, so I’m pretty sure I’ll be deployed again. There’s always going to be people there doing peacekeeping operations.”

Barbon and Anderson both said helping soldiers fight in the war against terror was a worthy cause.

“It was strange, exciting,” Anderson said. “Overall, it was a good experience — you learned a lot, but you missed home more than anything.”