Owasso Woman Thankful Brother Is Home From Afghanistan

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, Oklahoma -- An Owasso woman says having her brother home from Afghanistan was already going to be special, but since it's the 10th anniversary of 9/11 it's even more emotional.

Friends and family lined up at Tulsa International Airport on Wednesday to surprise Senior Airman Mark Stafford.

His sister, Laura Pittser of Owasso, says he never expected the welcome he got at the airport.

He's spent the last seven months in Afghanistan as a bomb dismantling specialist.

His mom says Mark called often, but if they didn't hear from him for three or four days, they started worrying.  But not now.

"Happy tears, its been a long time. Now we can sleep," said Lynn Arterberry, Mark's mother.

Stafford will be home in the Tahlequah area for three weeks.

Pittser says she's thrilled that Stafford can spend time with his family, especially her 10-month-old son, who was just weeks old the last time Stafford saw him.

Pittser says the plan is to surround Stafford with friends and family all weekend long.  They've also taken him out for the best steak dinner he's ever had.