NEWTON, Mass. -- A Newton family is welcoming their young soldier home this Thanksgiving following her service during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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NewsCenter 5's Jim Boyd reported that the Mezzetti family has a lot to be thankful for but they haven't forgotten the soldiers who are still far from home this holiday.

Cara Mezzetti, 25, an Army lieutenant on leave from Iraq, was welcomed home by her family Wednesday.

"From the minute I got off the plane and saw all my sisters and nieces and nephews, my mom and dad holding up banners, everybody my whole family, right there," said Cara Mezzetti.

"I'm just so happy she's here. Just want to be with her and get your arms around her all the time," said Liam Mezzetti, Cara's father.

Cara Mezzetti said she expected a warm reception from her family, but she said what she was overwhelmed by was the amount of support she received from the entire community.

"If you look on my street, every single tree has yellow ribbons," said Cara Mezzetti. "I just was so emotional. My oldest neighbors put up a welcome home sign right across the street out there."

Mezzetti said there were very stressful times during the war.

"I believe there were Scuds (missiles) coming in and in between them, you were just sitting there and we were just trying to have fun as best we could to lighten the mood just a little bit, to take a little bit of the seriousness out of the situation," said Cara Mezzetti.

Mezzetti is now stationed in Germany. But at home in Newton, this family's is tempered by thoughts of less fortunate military families who have lost loved ones in Iraq.

"I'm just so happy. Tears of joy, but I also feel so very sad for the other people," said Cara's mother, Emer Mezzetti.

"Maybe it's over for me, but it's not over. There's so much still going on over there, every single day," said Cara Mezzetti.