Red, white and blue lined the walls outside a gate at the South Bend Regional Airport Tuesday afternoon. Veterans, friends and family stood carrying flags, waiting for Pfc. Jared Yarger to walk through the revolving glass doors to welcome him.

Yarger, was received with cheers and applause as he made his way to the exit, his family walking closely around him. This was the first time he was back to Indiana since he was injured in Afghanistan in June.

This was also the first time he was able to see his family.

The 20-year-old Millersburg man was injured in Afghanistan on June 8, when shrapnel from mortar rounds hit his forehead. He was treated in Afghanistan and later flown to Germany to be examined. He continued to recover at Fort Bliss, in El Paso, Texas, where he was stationed initially.

The Fairfield High School graduate was deployed to Afghanistan in October 2011, and he visited his family in March before going back to Afghanistan. He received a Purple Heart while he was being treated in Afghanistan.

Among those who went to the South Bend Regional Airport were members of several posts of the American Legion, the Axemen Bike Club and the Patriot Guard. About 70 bikes were parked near the entrance to the airport, a good turnout for a weekday flight, said Ken Miller, from the American Legion in Nappanee, post 154.

Though Yarger had been told about the plans for his welcome ahead of time, he did not expect the number of people at the airport who were there for him.

“It was amazing to see everybody here, I think it was amazing,” he said, thanking all those have shown support to him and his family since he was injured.

Walking beside Yarger was Sheila Rutter, his mother. Rutter, a U.S. Air Force veteran, had been in close communication with Yarger, but had not been able to see him until his visit Tuesday.

“This is a lot better than the phone call I got from the United States Army,” she said, wiping tears of joy from her eyes. “We’re just so happy that he’s OK.”

Rutter, her husband Dana Rutter, and her son and daughter, Zachary Yarger and Shaina Yarger, were at the airport Tuesday to welcome Jared Yarger.

After receiving him, the family was escorted by South Bend Police, Millersburg Marshal Keith Hathaway and bikers from different organizations. They were escorted to the American Legion Post in Millersburg, were they held a small celebration.

Though his visit is of only six days, Yarger said he has a schedule full of visits to friends and family. Other plans include a trip to Cedar Point and attending a Poker Run in Kouts, Ind., where the funds will be raised for Yarger.