Sailors reunite with families in Groton

GROTON, Conn. (WTNH) -- It's the day before the Navy's 237th birthday but it was the sailors of the USS Toledo and their families who got presents Friday.

Homecomings are long awaited reunions: the hugs, the flowers, and the tears all anticipated as sailors and loved ones meet after months of being apart.

"How does it feel to be home," asked News 8's Tina Detelj.

"It's fantastic," said Richard Flegal, USS Toledo.

The anticipation of this homecoming prolonged and magnified
when the six month deployment was stretched to nearly 7.

"I was ready for him to come home when he left so," Kathryn Flegal said laughing.

The USS Toledo pulled into port to an anxious crowd.

"Are you waiting patiently here," asked Detelj.

"I wouldn't say patiently. No," sailor's wife Colleen Floyd said laughing.

The Virginia-class attack submarine logged more than 25,000 miles visiting ports in Haifa, Israel, and Portugal. Its trip home was interrupted by an added call to duty.

"We were actually about half way across the Atlantic almost home when we got turned around," said Commander Sam Geirger, USS Toledo, "but the guys morale was just great, they knew it was a job that had to be done."

It was a delay that made the homecoming even more sweet.

The longer wait actually got even longer for some of the family members who were still waiting for their sailors to come a shore Friday.

"He's actually on watch so I'm just waiting for someone to go take his place so he can come up," said Amanda Chapman, sailor's girlfriend.

"You expect him any minute now," asked Detelj.

"Hopefully," Chapman replied.

Family members were keeping watch for that familiar face. Looking for the wait to be over so they can get back to being a family.

"Sitting on the couch. Sitting on the couch doing nothing," said Richard and Kathryn Flegal.

Other families are still waiting for this day; the next homecoming will bring sailors home for the holidays.