Welcome home, heroes!

ERIC SUCAR staff Maria Thottukadavil hugs her son Charlie James, one of the U.S. Marine reservists with the 6th Motor Transport Battalion who returned home from a seven-month tour of duty in Iraq, at the Red Bank Marine Reserve Center on Newman Springs Road in Red Bank March 22. More photos on page 3.

U.S. Marine reservists in Headquarters and Service Company 6th Motor Transport Battalion returned home from a seven-month tour of duty in Iraq March 22.

Alarge crowd of family members and friends were gathered to welcome the 45 Marines home and celebrate their safe return at the Red Bank Marine Reserve Center on Newman Springs Road in Red Bank.

Clockwise from top: A father is overcome with emotion as he embraces his Marine son. Melanie Feliciano, 6, holds up a welcome sign while waiting for the bus carrying the returningMarines. Some of the hundreds gathered to welcome the unit home demonstrate their patriotism as the bus approaches. Marcus Bruno and girlfriend Caley Jackson are reunited.

PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR staff