POST FALLS - Brigadier General Alan Gayhart likened what took place Saturday at the National Guard Armory to a "Norman Rockwell moment."

More than 100 citizens turned out for a public ceremony held at the armory to honor more than 200 Idaho Army National Guard soldiers who returned from Iraq last fall.

Gayhart spoke to the uniformed soldiers who stood at attention and to the crowd of civilians, and said the ceremony was the community's way of congratulating "the next great generation."

"That's all those soldiers out there," Gayhart said.

He urged them to look out for each other as they make their way through difficult economic times that are tough for everyone, not just soldiers coming back from war.

"You've got a band of brothers that will be with you for the rest of your lives," Gayhart said.

Before Gayhart spoke, each soldier received a commemorative Buck knife engraved with his or her rank, name and unit.

Name after name was called, and the soldiers came forward to receive their knives from Post Falls Mayor Clay Larkin and Chuck Buck, chairman of the board of the knife manufacturing company.

The soldiers shook hands with Larkin, Buck, Gayhart and other military and other Post Falls city officials.

"This is a community that cares, and we will always care," said Larkin, prior to the presentation of the knives.

The families of two Coeur d'Alene soldiers killed in action - Sgt. Nathan Beyers, 24, and Spc. Nicholas Newby, 20 - were presented knives at the start of the ceremony.

The two were killed on July 7 by an improvised explosive device.

A third soldier, Staff Sgt. Jason Rzepa, 30, of Hayden, sustained leg injuries during the attack that resulted in a double amputation below his knees.

Rzepa, who recently received his prosthetics, was presented Saturday with the Joint Service Commendation Medal, awarded by the United States Secretary of Defense for meritorious service for the nation's armed forces. He received a standing ovation after receiving the medal. Rzepa earlier received the Purple Heart.

Local donors raised more than $11,000 to pay for the knives. The cities of Post Falls and Lewiston, where another armory is located, The Press, Buck Knives and veteran Graham Crutchfield facilitated the fundraiser.

Donors will be recognized on a plaque that will be displayed at the armory.

A similar ceremony was held honoring local Guard troops who returned home from Iraq in 2005.