910th receives warm welcome

More members of the 910th will be returning home Friday.
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
VIENNA -- "Papa's home! Papa's home! Papa's home! Papa's home!"
Little 3-year-old Abigail Zamarelli, perched on her father's shoulders holding a sign saying "Welcome Home Papa Maze," could not contain herself when the C-130 aircraft bringing home her grandfather, Tech. Sgt. Charles Maze, flew overhead.
But Abigail wasn't the only granddaughter to greet Maze, of Niles, when he walked across the runway to his family at Youngstown Air Reserve Station. Two more granddaughters had been born since he left for Ramstein Air Base, Germany, in early March with the 910th Airlift Wing, where he is a mechanic.
He held in his arms Aynsley, born May 27, daughter of Joe and Angela Zamarelli, also Abigail's parents; and Rain Anne, daughter of Chris and Patti Tirpak of Warren, born May 30. The Zamarellis, originally from Warren, reside in Lancaster, Ohio.
"Grandchildren are the greatest thing in the world. It's good to be home," Maze said, surrounded by his wife, Linda, and the rest of their family.
Similar greetings
There were a lot of similar greetings Friday afternoon at the base, when a large crowd of family, friends and well-wishers gathered to welcome home 91 members of the 910th.
Hugs and kisses and happy tears will again abound Friday at the base when an additional 117 910th members return.
In Germany the reservists supported Operation Joint Forge, a NATO-led peacekeeping force in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"I just want to sleep in my own bed," Master Sgt. Angie Mackey of Hanoverton said.
Sgt. Mackey was welcomed home by her husband, Don, and 7-year-old daughter Ayrrianne.
"I missed her a lot," Ayrrianne said, while waiting for her mother's plane to land.
The Mackeys started a day-care business, Cherish Children, in Lisbon, just before she was sent to Germany. So Don Mackey, who usually does landscaping and lawn work this time of year, had to take over management of the business.
Party planned
Judy Beistel, of North Versailles, Pa., is planning a party tonight with friends to welcome her husband, Tech. Sgt. Gary Beistel. And on July 5, she said there will be a street party to celebrate his homecoming.
Asked the first thing she plans to do, Mrs. Beistel laughed and said, "I'll tell you the second thing I'm going to do."
Mrs. Beistel, originally of Sharpsville, Pa., was at the air base with their children, Katie, 11, and John, 8; her husband's parents, David and Anne Beistel of Butler, Pa., formerly of Warner Road in Vienna; and brother and sister-in-law, Scott and Kim Joyce of Sharpsville.
Aimee Lynch of Austintown said the absence of her husband, David, was particularly hard for their 3-year-old daughter, Alyssa.
"She's daddy's girl. They went to the park and shopping. ... They did everything together. She doesn't understand why her dad had to go to Germany," Mrs. Lynch said.
The Lynches' son, Cole, is 1 year old and was crawling when his dad left. Now, he's walking and talking. I'm afraid Cole won't know his father," she said.
Speaking for herself, and probably for all the other families Friday, Mrs. Lynch said: "I'm glad he's back. I missed him greatly."
alcorn@vindy.com