(Johnston, IA) -- 575 Iowa National Guard soldiers deployed in the Middle East will soon be met with a hero's welcome.
Welcome Home ceremonies are being held Saturday in Des Moines and Cedar Rapids.
The Iowa Guard says the soldiers are returning to the US after being stationed in Iraq and Syria. They were all assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division.
The ceremonies give family and friends the opportunity to celebrate the soldiers' military service. However, the events are not open to the public.
The Des Moines Welcome Home Ceremony will be held at 1:45 pm at the 132nd Air Wing, Des Moines International Airport. The event in Cedar Rapids is being held at the Cedar Rapids Armory at 1:45 pm.
More Welcome Home ceremonies are planned March 12 in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Sioux City. Details about those events have not been released yet.
The ceremonies come just days after six soldiers based in Des Moines were killed in Kuwait in retaliatory strikes from Iran.