Crowds lined the one-mile parade route from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport to welcome back the 160 members of the Headquarters & Service Company of the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines.

"I'm really excited to see him," said Melissa Schlabach, 25, who brought her 2 1/2-year old son, Josh, to welcome home her brother, Cpl. Brent Monastra, 23, of Canton. "Growing up with him you don't realize what you have until he's not around."

"It's really sad. I lost a lot of good friends," said Lance Cpl. Jason Woodliff, 23, of Massillon, who served in Iraq with his brother Johel Woodliff, 20.

The battalion commander, Col. Lionel B. Urquhart, thanked family members during a brief ceremony, saying their support was vital to the Marines while they served overseas.

The battalion's 48 deaths included 14 Marines killed in back-to-back attacks within a week during the summer. Another 150 unit members were wounded. The battalion has about 900 members.

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