AUGUSTA – A homecoming is planned at the Augusta Armory on Thursday when soldiers from the 152nd Maintenance Company arrive in Maine after a yearlong deployment in Iraq.

The Maine National Guard has scheduled a welcome-home celebration at 10 a.m. for the soldiers, family members and the public. The unit’s 129 members were scheduled to leave Fort Dix, N.J., on buses at 2 a.m.

Rebecca Poulin was planning to be at the armory to greet her 29-year-old son, Spc. Joseph “Joey” Poulin.

When Poulin got an e-mail informing her of the arrival time, she got so excited she called newspapers and radio stations. She wanted to spread the word because many people were under the impression the unit was coming home next week. “I want to get the word out,” she said. “Right now, I’m so excited I could go to the top of a mountain and yell it out: ‘They’re coming home!”‘

Poulin, who hasn’t seen her son since last July, has already hung out banners and American flags to celebrate her son’s return.

The 152nd’s primary mission in Iraq was to conduct security and protection operations for Camp Liberty, one of the largest U.S. posts built in Iraq.

Maine National Guard Maj. Gen. John Libby and Capt. Christopher Moody will deliver remarks to the troops at Thursday’s ceremony, said Lt. Shanon Cotta.

Cotta said a “freedom salute ceremony” will be held at a later date in recognition of the troops.

“It’s a big formal event where members of the 152nd are recognized,” he said. “Typically, it’s an event the governor attends and representatives of U.S. Congress.”

While the 152nd is returning home, soldiers from Maine’s 240th Engineer Group have arrived safely in Afghanistan for their one-year tour of duty, according to National Guard officials.

Most of the unit’s 80 soldiers arrived at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan over the weekend, with the last of them arriving Monday, officials said.