Whidbey Island gets ready

Photos by Jason Carter / Stars and Stripes
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Yellow ribbons cover the fence outside schools in Oak Harbor, Washington. the community just outside Whidbey Island Naval Air Station.

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Ten-year-old Matt Farage of Oak Harbor holds several flags as he waits with about 10,000 other community members at the homecoming celebration.

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Flags dominate the horizon at Saturday's celebration at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station.

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Members of the crowd wave flags as the crewmembers arrive at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station.

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Lt. Shane Osborn waves as he exits the Navy C9.

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Airman David Sorokowski from VQ-1 ties an American flag to a pole at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station Saturday morning.

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Retired sailor Ed Siegel places flags along one of the major roads in Oak Harbor. Siegel belongs to the Oak Harbor Lions Club, which put up over 300 flags Saturday morning.

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Sarah Papp, 3, joins in the celebration at Whidbey Island.
Next set of photos: Joyful reunion
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