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300 sailors return on USS Roosevelt in Jacksonville

Between the chants, and the screams, you could feel the excitement in the crowd as people anxiously waited for 300 sailors to make their way off the USS Roosevelt on Friday in Mayport.

Emily Kuzman’s wife was one of the sailors aboard the ship. “It’s been seven months, almost to the day,” said Kuzman adding that it was her wife’s first deployment.

“It’s been a long ride, it’s been tough, but it makes us stronger,” Kuzman said.

As the ship docked, we got to see a few “first kisses.”

Chief Petty Officer TJ Murphy said he's ready to have his family in his arms. “We missed the holidays so we're so excited to be home,” Murphy said.

While the sailors missed the holidays, they’ll get the chance to celebrate and bring in the new year with their loved ones.