Welcome home Petty Officer Michael Canning

After nine months of solo-parenting, Mina Canning is happy and relieved her husband is home.

While she was here in Hollister, pregnant and taking care of a two-year-old, her husband was serving his country nearly 3,000 miles away.

Petty Officer Michael Canning was on assignment with the U.S. Coast Guard protecting the waters around Cuba.

He missed the birth of his baby daughter Olivia.

“I was just really mad he wasn’t there. More mad than sad,” Mina Canning laughed.

On Monday, Canning was welcomed home by his family, and his Hollister family.

With applause and cheers, the community came out to say thanks for his service.

“My friend and I had plans to go shopping today and we realized oh, we have this to come to, and it’s more important to welcome back one of our soldiers,” Heather Hickerson said.

Canning was stationed at Guantanamo Bay. In terms of the new diplomatic relationship that President Obama announced last month with Cuba, Petty Officer Canning said it was all too new to impact the mission he was on.

The last service member Hollister welcomed home was in the crowd to congratulate Michael Canning.

Captain Dale Eymann with the Navy Reserve — was deployed in Africa.

“Yeah, now that I’ve been back a few months… a little perspective,” Captain Eymann said. “The wonderful part is being back with my family. Some of the harder parts are just, what do I need to do to shift my life back to what it was like before,”

As Canning re-adjusts, he said he’ll lean on his community.

“Thank you everyone for coming out and showing us support,” Canning said.

And he’ll spend time with his girls — now all smiles because he’s finally home.

“She’s really happy to have Dad home because she’s a daddy’s girl,” Mina Canning said.

The community group “Hollister Gives Back” organized the welcome home. They’ve been doing this for two years, and have welcomed back about 20 service members.