It is the wish of every parent to have their children home for the holidays.

And, for this holiday season, the wish is a reality for Ray and Robin Gardner of Friendship. Their son, Brandon, is home after completing his overseas tour in Kuwait and Iraq. “He was gone too long,” said Brandon’s father. “We’re glad to have him home.”

Specialist Brandon Gardner is a member of the Delta Company 2-238th GSAB (General Support Aviation Battalion) as an aircraft mechanic. The 2006 South Ripley High School graduate received his pilot’s license before entering into the military and hopes that his experience with flying and as a mechanic will make him a good candidate for the aviation program. “It’s my goal to fly the Blackhawks that I work on,” he told The Versailles Republican.