Welcome Home!!!

I was back at my desk today after last week's holiday, facing a huge backlog of work, when I heard the sound of a band and parade. Sensing a "blip", I grabbed my coat and camera, and headed out to see what was going on. I wasn't disappointed... it turned out the 1st Battalion of the Royal Scots Borderers were home from Afghanistan, and a reception committee was waiting at the Town Hall to meet them. They marched in perfect formation with a police escort while shoppers and passers by stopped to clap and cheer. This wasn't a time to debate the rights and wrongs of whether they should have gone to Afghanistan: it was a time just to applaud those who had gone on the basis of the decisions of others and who had now come home. Sadly not all of them did... the Battalion suffered casualties in Helmand province... but Hamilton welcomed back those who had.
So which shot to choose? The marching soldiers with their guns over their shoulder and their distinctive Tam O'Shanters? The local dignatories including the Provost with his gold chain? or the groups of happy local school children with their carefully hand painted saltires and the words "Welcome Home" held high? I picked this one of two former soldiers who were with the welcome party... it seemed to encompass elements of both the soldiers and those applauding their return...