Rock Hill, S.C.-- Nothing quite makes a mother’s heart leap for joy like watching a son or daughter return from war. Moms got their chance Saturday, as 28 soldiers from the 218th enhanced Separate Brigade of the South Carolina National Guard stepped off a bus in Rock Hill.

Roughly 1,600 South Carolina National Guardsmen have been deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom, according to the Army, and the 218th is the largest of its major commands.  The soldiers come from all over the Palmetto State.

One group from the 218th returned home Thursday, another will also return to Columbia this week. 

The soldier spent the last year training and mentoring members of the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police – more than 140,000 security forces in all.  Three soldiers from the brigade died during deployment.

Spc. Eric Center said the year of teaching members of the fledgling democracy how to secure their nation was fun and exciting.  "They’ve come a long way from when we started training them, so they’ve become really good at what they do now," said Center.

His mom, Beth Center, is proud of him.  More importantly, she’s glad he came home safely.  She waited eagerly outside the National Guard Armory in Rock Hill for the bus carrying the soldiers to pull in. “I've just been emotional all day, just been about to cry,” said Mrs. Center.  “Just so excited, can't wait to see him!”

As in most Army welcoming ceremonies, flags and cheers greet soldiers first – families have to wait until after speeches are done and soldiers are released from duty before they can welcome them back in person.

Beth Center wasn’t sure what she’d do when she’d be reunited with her son. “Cry,” she laughed. “Hug him!”

When the moment came, she hugged her son and pinched his slender waist.   “You’re skinny!” she told him, and hugged him again.

The homecoming is a special gift – just in time. 

“It's the best Mothers Day,” she said.  “When I found out he was coming home today, I was like, that's my mothers day present!”