SOLDIERS from Chetwynd Barracks, in Chilwell, were honoured – alongside their children – at a special awards ceremony at the Council House.
Dozens of soldiers from the 64 Works Group Royal Engineers, who are based at the barracks, received an Operation Herrick Campaign medal yesterday after completing a tour of duty in Afghanistan.
Among them was Major Rocco Giannandrea, who was accompanied by children Cara, eight and son Damon, aged nine.
The children, who live at the barracks with their family, proudly wore mini medals that mirrored their father's.
"I felt proud to get my award," said Cara.
Major Giannandrea has completed two tours of Afghanistan and said events like yesterday's awards ceremony were important to him and his comrades.
"We've enjoyed it," he said. "It's great to get my medal in front of my family. It's hard being away from them at this age."
The tour of duty for Operation Herrick in Afghanistan ended on November 25. It saw the specialist engineer unit plan, design and build infrastructure projects to support UK forces and the Afghan Government and train locals to continue the work.
The unit also received the Firmin Sword of Peace Award, a prestigious honour for humanitarian work, after helping build a temporary footbridge across the River Derwent in Workington, Cumbria, following floods in 2009.
They were called in to help rebuild a bridge after it collapsed.
It took less than two weeks to design and build the new bridge.
Lieutenant Colonel Tony Tait, commanding officer of 64 Works Group Royal Engineers, said: "We can look back on our time in Afghanistan with an immense sense of pride and achievement.
"As an organisation, we have delivered a significant amount in a relatively short timeframe and made a difference not only to our soldiers, sailors and airmen but also the people and institutions of Afghanistan."
The 44 year-old, who is originally from Harrogate, said events like the one held yesterday reinforced the "public and military bond".
Meanwhile, Samantha Hallgren, 28, said she was delighted to have husband Eric reunited with their six-month-old daughter in time for Christmas.
She said: "It's been pretty tough but I've had a lot of family support and I'm really proud of him.
"I love having the family back together, everything's complete now. We get our Christmas wish, we get our daddy back."
