Orlando Marines return to families after Afghanistan

Marines return to 'best feeling ever'
April 14, 2012
By Jon Busdeker
Orlando Sentinel

Moments after returning Marine Reservist Brenden Distler stepped off the bus Saturday, the lance corporal from Titusville had a girl's arms wrapped around his neck.

Wearing a red, white and blue dress, Lilly Distler, Brenden's 5-year-old daughter, tightly held her daddy, something she hasn't done almost eight months. Wife Ashley Distler and daughter Lyla, 1, soon joined in on welcoming home their Marine.

"It's so great," Distler, 25, said about embracing his family. "It's the best feeling ever." At the Armed Forces Reserve Center near the Orlando International Airport, a cheering crowd waving American flags and holding signs that read "Welcome Home" greeted the police-escorted bus carrying more than 20 U.S. Marine Reservists.

Riding through the night, the soldiers arrived from Camp Lejeune, N.C., where they underwent medical clearances to go home, and were welcomed by friends and family.
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In November there was a packing party to send goodies to the Marines in Afghanistan. Families sent messages while missing them.

Yesterday when I went to film the Marines coming home, I had no idea these were the Marines the packing party was for until I saw the families all together.