The Rico family from Big Pine, California stood nervously on the concourse at Reno/Tahoe Airport. They had been looking forward to this day for some time. Son Martin Jr., is coming home safe after a year's tour in Afghanistan.

"Everybody's so happy he's getting hom and everybody's so nervous," said his father, adding "You know I'm happpy he's coming home alive, not in a coffin."

That it was Thanksgiving made it all the more special. "It's very special," said mom Margie Rico, like the rest of the family wearing a welcome home t-shirt bearing her son's picture. "I'm so thankful to the Lord for bring my some home so we could be with him."

They've seen too little of their son since the day he joined the Navy, 7 years ago. He signed up at age 17, needing their permission to do so. It was, they say, something he felt he had to do after the attacks of 9-11.

"You try to protect them as much as you can when they're little and then they sign up to do this,"" says Mrgie Rico, "but I am proud and I thank the Lord for bringing him back safe to me."

The minutes seemed to drag by as they waited. Finally his plane was on the ground.

Minutes later there he was walking toward them. Petty Officer Second Class Martin Rico, looking exhausted after his flight silently hugged his sister and mother, then embraced his brother and girlfriend.

It was, young Martin said, as much as he could have expected.

"I haven't seen them for a long time, so to come off the plane and see them here at the airport, it was amazing. I mean it really is."

He didn't expect to see us, but it was Margie Rico's idea to ask us to be here so family members back home in Big Pine who couldn't be here in Reno could tune in to our newscast and share the moment.

Did he want to say anything to them?

"Oh, man. Thank you guys for your support. I love them. Miss them and I can't wait to see them real soon, hopefully this weekend."

Rico's new assignment is at the Fallon Naval Air Station, hours from home.

Welcome home Martin. Happy Thanksgiving. Thanks for letting us bei part of it all.