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Anticipate a throng to greet them at Juneau International Airport. Supporters have been a beehive of activity preparing this week - printing 1,500 signs of thanks to be hung around town, crafting lapel pins, tying yellow ribbons to trees. The Capital City Republican Women helped with the preparations for a hero's welcome that is richly deserved. Many of the citizen soldiers will see supportive signs posted in their workplaces when they return to civilian duty.

As the recent loss of Anchorage soldiers in an Iraq helicopter crash shows, the duty remains dangerous and those who undertake it deserve their neighbors' admiration. Juneau is lucky to have 30 of its own back today. Help make them feel at home.