x
Breaking News
More () »

Local military family reunites after years apart

An emotional homecoming on Armed Forces Day, as one military family reunites after a year and a half apart.

BANGOR (NEWS CENTER Maine) -- On a day meant to celebrate and thank the men and women who serve in the armed forces, one local military family is given the gift of being reunited after years spent apart serving our country.

"There she is!”

An emotional homecoming on Armed Forces Day, as one military family reunites after a year and a half apart.

"It's nice to finally come home and be able to get back to normal and just have my family,” says military mother Rachel Stanwood, who just returned from her deployment in Bahrain Saturday.

Troy and Rachel Stanwood got married in June 2016 and just two months later, Rachel was deployed in the Navy. Troy did fifteen months in Bahrain as well, returning home to central Maine after separating from the military last month. Their son, also named Troy, was only six months when his parents deployed, living with family in Maine until his parents returned home.

"This is bigger because she left long before I did, and she got back long after I did, so she spent more time away from him than I have,” says Troy Stanwood of his wife’s homecoming.

There wasn't a dry eye in the crowd gathered at Bangor International Airport Saturday, waiting for and watching Rachel’s arrival.

"It's amazing,” says Rachel, of the crowd that gathered at baggage claim. “I wasn't expecting it. It's just, I don't know. I'm just happy. That's all. I'm happy for once in the last two years to finally be back together."

When asked what's next for this military family, the answer is another deployment, but hopefully one which keeps the three of them together.

"We're going to Japan for three years and luckily I won't be deployed anywhere,” says Rachel. “I'll be on land the entire time, so finally kind of get back to a normal routine and I don't know, see where it takes us."

Reunited, hopefully for good, on a special day meant to pay tribute to the Stanwood family, and others who serve in the armed forces.

Before You Leave, Check This Out