Veterans Day, which began as Armistice Day and honored the official end of World War I, is now a day to celebrate and remember all veterans.
Throughout the year, thousands of troops come home from long deployments to be greeted by family and friends at official homecoming celebrations.
These photos show that it really is good to be home:
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U.S. Air Force Technical Sergeant Chad Boley is reunited with his family at a surprise homecoming prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AdvoCare 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on Nov. 10, 2013, in Avondale, Arizona.
Cpl. Todd F. Michalek/U.S. Marine Corps
Lance Cpl. David Sellers, a refrigeration mechanic with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, embraces his wife with a kiss during the Command Elementâs homecoming on July 17, 2015, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
Stephen Morton/Associated Press
U.S. Army Spc. Skyler Ford is kissed by his wife Sara Ford during a homecoming ceremony for troops in the 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, with the 3rd Infantry Division on July 3, 2013, at Fort Stewart, Georgia.
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Members of the U.S. Army's 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, embrace family members following a homecoming ceremony at Campbell Army Airfield on Sept. 1, 2014, in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
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Five-year-old Gavin Shaw flashes a smile as he hugs his father, Master Sgt. Adam Shaw, during a Welcome Home Ceremony for approximately 230 4th Brigade Combat Team soldiers on Nov. 4, 2012, in Fort Carson, Colorado.
Stephen Morton/Associated Press
U.S. Army Sgt. Aaron Brewster is welcomed home by his parents Sharon and Steve Brewster during a welcome home ceremony on Dec. 4, 2012, in Fort Stewart, Georgia.
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Mya McNeal is kissed by her mother, U.S. Army Sgt. Kionna Huewitt, during a homecoming ceremony for 184 troops in the 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team after a 9-month deployment to Afghanistan on July 3, 2013, at Fort Stewart, Georgia.
Stephen Morton/Associated Press
Lynne Johnson greets her son-in-law U.S. Army Sgt. Howard Lovell during a homecoming for 184 troops with the 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team on July 3, 2013, at Fort Stewart, Georgia.
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Husband and wife William and Rebecca Prestridge and boyfriend and girlfriend Craig Cooper and Ashley Zeigler embrace following a homecoming ceremony for members of the U.S. Army's 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division at Campbell Army Airfield on Sept. 1, 2014, in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
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Spc. Marqes Turpin of the 273rd Military Police Company of DC Army National Guard kisses his two-year-old son Josiah Turpin as his sister Nikilae looks on during a homecoming ceremony on Oct. 16, 2012, at the DC National Guard Armory in Washington, DC.
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Spc. Brian Bennett of the U.S. Army's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, holds his 2-year-old daughter Sophia following a homecoming ceremony in the Natcher Physical Fitness Center on Fort Knox on Thursday, February 27, 2014 in Fort Knox, Kentucky.
Ted S. Warren/Associated Press
U.S. Army Spc. Clayton Joy hugs his sons Peyton, 3, left, and Austin, 2, right, as other soldiers with the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team move to greet their family and friends in the early hours of Aug. 25, 2010, at a homecoming at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state.
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Sgt. Obie Dubose gets hugs from his family during a homecoming for Marines from the 13th MEU on April 24, 2014, in Camp Pendleton, California.
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Bradyn Vest embraces his father, Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Vest of the U.S. Army's 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, following a homecoming ceremony at Campbell Army Airfield on Sept. 1, 2014, in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
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Lt. Col. Sung Kato of the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division gives his son an upside-down hug during a homecoming ceremony at Campbell Army Airfield on March 21, 2015, in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
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Maj. Dave Armeson of the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division kisses his daughter Adelyn Armeson, 2, during a homecoming ceremony at Campbell Army Airfield on March 21, 2015, in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
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Three-year-old Bella Hanley high fives Sgt. Frank Passmore while sitting atop her dad Spc. Jeffrey Hanley of the U.S. Army's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, following a homecoming ceremony in the Natcher Physical Fitness Center on Feb. 27, 2014, in Fort Knox, Kentucky.
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Warrant Officer Anthony Woodmansee of the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division is embraced by his wife Emily Woodmansee during a homecoming ceremony at Campbell Army Airfield on March 21, 2015, in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
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Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Michael C. Barton
Information Systems Technician 1st Class Milton Hill assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 11 is greeted by family during a homecoming ceremony at Naval Construction Battalion Center.
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Staff Sgt. Chris Oldham of the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division plays with his son Isaac Oldham during a homecoming ceremony at Campbell Army Airfield on March 21, 2015, in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Lance Cpl. Levi Schultz/U.S. Marine Corps
Chief Petty Officer Curtis A. Harmon, leading petty officer, regimental aid station, 7th Marine Regiment, hugs his daughters, Jayleme Harmon, 12, and Anya Harmon, 6, during the regiment's homecoming at Lance Cpl. Torrey L. Gray Field on Oct. 23, 2015.
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Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Johans Chavarro/U.S. Navy
Electronics Technician 2nd Class James Whatley embraces his daughter during a homecoming ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Deployed since March, the crew of more than 300 Sailors steamed a total of 48,550 nautical miles across the U.S. 3rd and 7th Fleet areas of operation.
Sgt. Brad Mincey/U.S. Army National Guard
Spc. Sabrina Day, 132nd Military Police Company, South Carolina National Guard, smothers her three-year-old son Blake with hugs and kisses on Aug. 4, 2014, at Eagle Aviation in Columbia, South Carolina, upon returning from deployment to Afghanistan.
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