National Guard unit that served in Washington welcomed home

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — A North Dakota National Guard unit that was called to duty in the nation’s capital has been formally welcomed home.

A ceremony was held Sunday for members of the 1st Battalion of the 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment. More than 200 soldiers recently returned from nearly a year of service helping provide security for Washington, D.C.

More than 30 soldiers volunteered to remain on the mission with a South Carolina-based unit. They’re expected home later this year.

The unit is based in Grand Forks with detachments in Fargo and Bismarck. It has members from communities across North Dakota and also in Minnesota, Wisconsin, California and Nebraska. It served a similar mission in 2013 and 2014.