Returning to New Hampshire after a year at war proved bittersweet for a group of 15 soldiers with the New Hampshire National Guard.

There was plenty of joy and many smiles Thursday as the troops were reunited with family and friends at a ceremony in Concord. But there was also sadness with the realization that one fellow guardsman — Cpl. Scott Dimond of Franklin — was not with them.

Instead his widow, Jennifer, was on hand to participate in activities and receive a special plaque in his memory. They presented her with a small replica of the large plaque they had installed in memory of Dimond back in Afghanistan.

The original plaque was put up in the camp of the battalion in Lashkar Gah in the Helman Province of Afghanistan. The camp was renamed Camp Dimond in memory of their fellow soldier.

Dimond was killed late last year when his convoy came under attack near Lashkar Gah.

His absence from the ceremonies and his wife's stoic presence was a solemn reminder of the costs of military service.

Each of the troops returning this week has completed missions in Iraq, Afghanistan or elsewhere in the United States assisting in the war effort, said Major Greg Heilshorn, public affairs officer for the N.H. National Guard.

Two soldiers fulfilling missions in Afghanistan alongside the late Cpl. Scott Dimond were on hand for the ceremony.

"We lost five soldiers including one of New Hampshire's finest, Cpl. Scott Dimond," Colonel John Cuddy said.

Cuddy is with the N.H. National Guard but is from East Greenwich, R.I. He was the commander of Cpl. Dimond's regiment in Afghanistan. He has about 2-3 years of active duty but in February will have been a guardsman for 25 years.

"I've been a reserve most of my life," he said. "It's fantastic to come home no matter what the weather."

Major Roy Hunter, the executive commander of Cpl. Dimond's group, agreed.

"It was high time to get home," he said.

Hunter returns to his wife and three children in Londonderry after his yearlong deployment.

Also among the group was Laconia's Sgt. Hoon Nowack, who returns to his wife and three children ages 13, 9, and 5.

Sgt. Nowack has four years of active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. His most recent deployment was in Afghanistan training Afghan National Soldiers.

"It feels great to be home," said Sgt. Nowack, who works at the National Guard in Concord. However, he admitted the weather is a bit much.

"It's too cold for me," he said.

Gov. John Lynch welcomed the soldiers home personally and gave a brief speech to say "thank you." He reminded the soldiers and others gathered that our freedoms are, "thanks to your hard work and sacrifice."

Members of the state's Congressional Delegation sent letters which were read aloud thanking the guardsmen for their service.

U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen wrote, "There is no higher calling than service to one's country." Congressman Paul Hodes wrote, "The undying thanks of every New Hampshire citizen are with you."

Assistant Adjutant General Stephen Burritt spoke to the soldiers lightly.

"You brought some less-than-warm weather to New Hampshire," he said jokingly, but also said they bring home sunshine in their smiling faces. He congratulated and thanked them for their service.

"You have been gone for one year, all trying to make democracy a way of life to all across the world," he said.

Col. Cuddy reminded those in the room that, though he and 14 others were home Thursday, "the United States continues its collaborative efforts."

"All of New Hampshire's soldiers performed their best in their deployment," Cuddy said. He added that their mission would have been impossible without the support and cooperation of Iraqis and Afghans.

A moment was taken at the beginning of the ceremony to recognize Cpl. Dimond's wife Jennifer and to hold a moment of silence for the soldier.

"There's a collective void in our hearts with the loss of Cpl. Dimond," said Gov. Lynch in commending his service.

Heilshorn said numerous guardsmen have been deployed from the state since 2004.

"More than 75 percent of our guardsmen have served in a combat theater since that time," he said. This translates into well over 1,500 men and women.

Heilshorn said that N.H. guardsmen have served in a number of missions across the world in the past eight years. Security missions, transportation missions, fixed sites such as prisons, infantry missions, air refueling missions and military police missions just to name a few.

N.H. Guardsmen receive extensive training in basic soldier and airmen skills. Before soldiers are deployed to a mission, Heilshorn said they receive more specific training for about three months. This consists of day-to-day training of skills specific to where they are being deployed to and it takes place at different military bases across the country.

DARYL CARLSON/CITIZEN PHOTO NEW HAMPSHIRE National Guard Col. John Cuddy, right, and Major Roy Hunter present Jennnifer Dimond with a replica of a plaque they erected at their camp in Lashgargah, Afghanistan, dedicated to her late husband, Scott Dimond, who died while in duty in Afghanistan last year. * Order a print of this photo