Teresa McLean is determined to give her son, Jeremy, and fellow members of the local National Guard unit a proper homecoming.

McLean and Amanda Chipps, whose husband, Jamie, and a cousin serve in Company C 252nd Combined Arms Battalion, spearheaded a banner-signing campaign to honor the servicemen upon their return.

For two days last week, McLean stationed herself at the Armory in Southern Pines to allow members of the public to sign a large banner celebrating the battalion's safe return.

McLean said residents have added about 50 signatures and well-wishes to the community banner the past two days, bringing the total signatures to near 100.

"It turned out very well," McLean said. "We are very, very pleased and we certainly appreciated everybody's support."

McLean said there are no current plans to hold another public signing.

Anyone who missed the event and would like to sign the banner can call the Armory at (910) 692-8747 to arrange a time.

Eighty-seven soldiers from several states, including North Carolina, are serving in the battalion, which left for Iraq in April after four months of training. They are expected to return home from Iraq sometime in January. There is no official return date.

"These guys, in their civilian jobs, work in law enforcement, they work in the prisons, they work in heating and air, they work for Walmart, they work everywhere," Chipps said. "So people have seen them and may not even realize they're soldiers."

This is the second tour of duty for many of the members of the National Guard unit. Family members wanted to do something to honor their return, so they have four banners and a flag to present the battalion.

One banner features handprints from 19 children of the soliders. Several of those children were born while their fathers were serving in Iraq.

"This is only a small token of our appreciation," McLean said.

Chipps added, "I have always had a great respect for all of our service members and their families, but I have found a new respect and admiration toward my husband during this deployment, who, if I may say, is my heart."

Contact Tom Embrey at (910) 693-2484 or by e-mail at tembrey@thepilot.com.