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Yellow ribbons going up around Onslow County to welcome Marines back from Afghanistan

Yellow ribbons are going up around Onslow County to help welcome home marines returning to Camp Lejeune from Afghanistan.

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WITN
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Yellow ribbons are going up around Onslow County to help welcome home U.S. Marines returning to Camp Lejeune from Afghanistan.

Members of the 24th MEU, the Marine Unit from Camp Lejeune went to Afghanistan to help with evacuations, according to NBC affiliate WITN. A member of the unit, Sgt. Nicole Gee, was one of the 13 service members killed in a suicide bombing at the Kabul airport on Aug. 26.

Gee, who was assigned to the Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, II Marine Expeditionary Force, in Camp Lejeune, died at 23. She was from Sacramento, Calif.

In an interview with WRAL News, Gee's sister, Misty Fuoco, said Gee joined the Marines because of her husband, who's also a Marine. A fondness to help others guided Gee, who got into the service after high school.

WITN reports that Onslow County officials are encouraging residents to decorate along Freedom Way and the areas around the base gates to welcome home the Marines.

"This means a lot to all the commissioners, especially myself," said Onslow County Commissioner Paul Buchanan. "Our troops mean so much to us, and being in Afghanistan and having to be removed from there, and I know some of the people that are over there. It's been a hassle."

The Marines are expected to return home throughout the week.

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