jhancock@journalnet.com

POCATELLO - Unable to give two returning soldiers the typical welcoming upon their arriving home during the past few weeks, the POW*MIA Awareness Rally Corp. and the Yellow Ribbon Campaign of Idaho hosted a ceremony for both soldiers at the Southeast Idaho Veterans Memorial at Ross Park on Saturday.

"They need to know their community is behind them and they are loved," said Hiedi Young, who coordinated Saturday's ceremony. "They need to know that regardless of how anybody feels about what is going on, they are supported."

Young said local veterans' groups try to get out and welcome home every soldier as they arrive, but sometimes they are unable to gather together, especially if the notice is short.

U.S. Army Spc. Johnna Boyle returned earlier this month from Iraq and is on an 18-day leave. She gets back on a plane headed to Iraq on Dec. 24, but expects to be done with her current tour in April.

Boyle is currently serving at the FOB Normandy northeast of Baghdad. She's a military police officer who is helping to train and organize Iraqi police departments. As a member of the active Army, when she does return home, it will be to Hawaii where she is stationed. Boyle joined the Army 19 months ago.

"I always wanted to do it. It's a bit of a challenge," she said.

Also being welcomed home on Saturday was Idaho National Guard Spc. Mike Main who returned home on Nov. 21, just in time to spend Thanksgiving Day with his wife and four children.

"I was thankful for that," he said.

Main was stationed in Gardez, located in Eastern Afghanistan, about two hours southeast of Kabul. He previously served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1988 to 1994, during which he was part of Desert Storm. He decided a year ago to join the Idaho National Guard.

"I did it for several reasons, including the manner in which Blake Stephens came home," Main said. "It inspired me to join."

Stephens was killed in Iraq on May 18, 2007, when an improvised explosive device detonated.

Main described service in Afghanistan more than 16 years after Desert Storm as a different experience in several ways.

"Back then, we got one call in three months," Main said. "The communications systems now make it so much better."

Young said anyone who knows of a returning soldier can contact her at the Idaho National Guard Armory in Pocatello where she works as a family assistance coordinator at 237-3700, or John Rogers with the Yellow Ribbon Campaign at 244-1576.