Yesterday, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and Gov. Corzine of New Jersey held a press conference at the Bergen Family Center in Englewood.

From left to right:  Englewood Mayor Michael J. Wildes, N.J. State Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle, N.J. State Senator Loretta Weinberg, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, Gov. Jon S. Corzine and Bergen Family Center President Mitch Schonfeld

Sebelius announced that New Jersey, a state she called a leader in children’s health insurance coverage will receive an additional $286 million for NJ Family Care, targeted at low-income parents and children 18 and younger.  She praised Corzine’s leadership on children’s health care issues and said that New Jersey’s expedited eligibility process for NJ Family Care would be used as a model by other states.

Sebelius stressed President Obama’s emphasis on health care insurance, especially for children, and said that Corzine, who is in the midst of challenging reelection campaign against Republican Christopher Christie, is aligned with the admistration’s goals on these issues.

Sebelius and Corzine listened to songs performed by children from the Bergen Family Center at the start of the conference and visited with some of the center’s seniors after it concluded.

“You’ve got a good governor here,” Sebelius told the seniors.  “Make sure you keep him,” she said, as she departed.

Yesterday, the last group of New Jersey Army National Guard soldiers who were deployed late last summer returned to New Jersey.  They landed at McGuire Air Force Base and will spend the next week at Fort Dix for demobilization briefings.

Two of the three soldiers whom I have been following came home yesterday  — Eli Viera and David Pinero of the 250th Brigade Support Battalion. ( Jeff Mullins, who was detached from the battalion and reassigned in Iraq, returned home earlier last week.)

The soldiers flew to the United States from Kuwait via Germany on a contracted commercial airline, Northwest.

The families were not allowed to greet their returning soldiers at air field, but waited for them at Fort Dix.  The first few soldiers off the plane — home at last.

Top brass from the New Jersey National Guard greeted and thanked all the soldiers when they stepped back onto American soil.

Most of the deplaning soldiers climbed down the steps soberly.  They seemed tired and subdued at this point in their journey.

Not the fellow below, though, who lifted his arms and cheered, as he clambered down.

Eli Viera (in center), coming home

and shaking hands back on American soil.

And David Pinero (second from left) coming home

and making his way down the long line of greeters.

Buses and trucks transported the soldiers and their gear to Fort Dix, where they turned in their weapons and listened to a short briefing about base demobilization protocol.

Many families had shown up hours earlier, and they waited for the moment of reunion anxiously.

Clara and Ethan Viera arrived, accompanied by Eli’s mother and nephew.

The soldiers marched in formation to the meeting place.

Kiera waited with a sign, en route.

When the soldiers reached the meeting point, they stood, waiting to be dismissed, tilted toward their tense and expectant families.

When the command was given, the ranks broke and both lines rushed forward into embraces and kisses.

Kiera and David

Kiera and David with their friend

Eli and Clara

Eli, Clara and Ethan

Clara reaches out to Major Stephen McKenzie, commander of the 250th Brigade Support Battalion.  Both he and Eli received Bronze Stars in Iraq, just before they returned to the United States.

Eli and Ethan, getting ready to readjust to life together again at home