Ga. councilwoman returns from Afghanistan - Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5

A yellow ribbon homecoming was held on Monday for a Flowery Branch city councilwoman returning from Afghanistan.

Neighbors tied the ribbons to tress to welcome Tara Richards back from a half-year deployment in Afghanistan. Richards is a captain in the Air Force Reserves.

"It's very nice to come home and realize that you were appreciated and that people missed you while you were gone," said Richards.

Richards, a civil engineer with the Air Force Reserves in support of special operations, says that included building runways, repairing buildings, fixing furniture. She also met with politicians, provided humanitarian relief and even herded camels. Because she has previous medical training, she helped offload "Wounded Warriors"at the tarmac.

The neighborhood support for Richards started long before the yellow ribbons were in place.

"We sent care packages and kept up with her through Facebook," said neighbor Jenn Squillance.

Neighbors also helped her husband, Mike, and the couple's two children with meals.

Richards plans to return as a Flowery Branch council member at its next meeting on Thursday. She said that she believes in setting a good example for her children and community.

"It's important that kids grow up seeing that, and as they realize that it takes people to do that. If everybody sits back and watches everybody else do it, then that one percent that has those roles isn't doing it," said Richards.

Richards says this was her first deployment to Afghanistan. She said that if she were asked to go again, she'd proudly serve her country, but first would like to spend time with family and friends.