(Editor’s Note: The Elizabethton Star is offering a new monthly installment that will highlight men and women from the community that have served in the United States military, past or present, titled Honoring Our Military Heroes. Citizens wanting to spotlight a member of service from Carter County or the City of Elizabethton can either email news@elizabethton.com or visit the Elizabethton Star’s office downtown to be featured in an upcoming installment). 

The smile on Lauren Moore’s face was hard to contain. 

And how could it not? Moore and several other military families were able to welcome home their loved ones Monday, Sept. 11, after serving overseas in the Middle East. 

Among those that departed six months ago from Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota was Senior Airman Daniel Moore, an Elizabethton native who enlisted in the Air Force in March 2014. 

According to Lauren, the wait can be rough sometimes, but it comes with the territory. SrA Moore and a handful of airmen departed from the base in B-52 bombers to conduct campaigns overseas.

“As a military spouse, I understand that mission comes first and family second,” Lauren told the Elizabethton Star. “It is hard having him gone, but technology makes the distance so much easier.” Even though the technology helps, Lauren added it couldn’t beat having him home. 

Daniel and Lauren have resided in North Dakota for over three years now but the Cyclone Pride continues to brew for the airman.

Daniel graduated from Elizabethton High School in 2010 with his parents, sister and niece, all still residing in the city. 

“Elizabethton is home to us both,” she said. “In the future we want to come back to set roots.” 

Lauren added her husband is soft-spoken and doesn’t like to take credit for his actions, but was quick to praise him and the efforts of the other soldiers for protecting the freedoms of citizens with their service. 

And Monday’s return home will also ring clear for the military spouse. 

“It was such a great day,” she said.