At the Warfield Air National Guard Base in Middle River on Monday, a group of over 40 friends and family welcomed home 15 members of the Maryland Air National Guard's 135th Airlift Group after their two-month deployment in Afghanistan.

As the unit's C-27 "Spartan" aircraft made a swooping pass over the gathered crowd, Stefanie Wright, who is seven-months pregnant, pointed and told her two toddlers, Riley and Tyler, “Daddy's coming home.”

Bowleys Quarters native Master Sgt. Matthew Wright is a loadmaster on the Spartan who has been deployed about seven times.

“It is definitely hard having him away, but we have a lot of friends and family that we can rely on,” said Stefanie, a third grade teacher at Deep Creek Elementary.

She also credited Grace Point Baptist Church for helping with the pressures and stress of a deployment.

“Matt works for the Harford County Sheriff’s Department so he's always doing something dangerous,” said Stefanie.

As the plane landed and taxied down the runway, the group rushed towards it in anticipation of being reunited with their loved ones.

The airmen got off the plan one at a time, first quickly shaking the hands of their commanding officers, and then finding their families for a more personal greeting of tight hugs and kisses.

When Matthew exited the plane, a beautiful smile lit up Stefanie's face as she rushed into his arms with Riley and Tyler for a family hug.

With local news cameras rolling, Matthew for the first time watched his son Tyler walk.

“It's scary,” Matthew said as Tyler scampered around the tarmac. “Having another mobile child to keep track of. It's just great to be back home with my family."

After the group finished exchanging hugs and kisses, they had lunch on the base and returned home.

An additional 15 airmen are scheduled to return on June 26, and 25 more will return June 30.