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The sun hangs low over the tarmac, casting long shadows across the rows of soldiers standing at attention. The air is thick with the smell of diesel and dust, mixed with the sharp tang of anticipation. Families cluster at the edge of the field, their voices a low hum of excitement and relief. Banners wave in the breeze, hand-painted with welcome homes and we missed yous. The buses have just pulled in, their doors hissing open like a held breath. Soldiers spill out, boots hitting the ground in a steady rhythm, their faces a mix of exhaustion and hope. Then the ceremony begins—lines form, and one by one, loved ones break through, touching a shoulder, a cheek, a hand, and the soldier dissolves into an embrace. Laughter and sobs ripple through the crowd like a wave. But in the middle of it…