The marquee sign at the entry to Polaris Point indicated it was a big day at U.S. Naval Base Guam.

The message – Welcome Home USS Topeka – explained why.

After just over three months at sea, with maintenance and repair ships USS Frank Cable and USS Emory S. Land on each side, the Los Angeles-class attack submarine, capable of launching Tomahawk, cruise and harpoon missiles, was home safe and sound from its mission of "national tasking."

One could sense the excitement brewing among the sailors' families before any of the crew came ashore.

With nearly 150 sailors on board the nuclear-powered attack submarine, the homecoming was a pleasant way of starting the Easter weekend holiday.

With more than 100 civilians on hand to welcome their loved ones back, the signs some of them held told the story.

Naval Base Guam's Morale, Welfare and Recreation team was there with 15 Papa John's pizzas for anyone hungry. They also had welcome-home bags for any sailor who wanted one. The words on one bag read, "Guam missed you a latte."

Star Wars-inspired welcome

Two young boys stood with their mother holding well-decorated and illustrated Star Wars signs. With a picture of a stormtrooper on one, along with Darth Vader and the words, "Look, there is my father," written on it, both boys agreed they were happy to be getting Daddy home.

The Submarine Squadon 15 crew stood at attention on land and saluted the submariners, who usually carried a rose for their loved one or spouse as they started to disembark the sub. That's when the screams of joy began, along with the occasional run toward each other to embrace. Loud country-rock music played in the background of the jovial scene.

The ceremonial first kiss went to Jennifer Brinda, who was holding her infant son Gavin as her husband walked off the sub. Asked how she planned to spend the weekend, she excitedly replied, "Doing nothing. Just enjoying Daddy being home."

Mom traveled 8,000 miles

For one mother, Sonia Carver, her son had no idea she was waiting for him. As a matter of fact, Carver hadn't seen her sailor son in 268 days, since last June. Her sign said she traveled nearly 8,000 miles from North Carolina to surprise him, spending a "pot of gold" for her ticket, all to travel to "hot Guam" for the first time in her life. The mom wanted to see her son, Information Systems Technician Submarines 2nd Class Nate Carver, on board on his final submarine mission, surprised, which to her is "priceless."

Sonia also wanted to be with her son at a difficult time in her life. Five weeks prior to coming to Guam, Sonia's fiancee died suddenly. Sonia said she's here, to help her through the grieving process. While her son knew of the death, he couldn't make it home due to the mission.

"He's going to cry. It will be very emotional."

She was right.

There were some tears, but not before Nate could get a word in about what his mother coming so far meant to him.

"She never ceases to amaze me," he said. "It's amazing."

Not expecting her, he joked, "I wish I would have worn my whites."

Asked how they would spend the holiday weekend together, Sonia said she just planned to be in the kitchen, which appeared to be music to her son's ears.

"I'm going to cook all his favorite meals and we are just going to enjoy it," she said.

"Nice. Nice," her son said, his eyes and smile widening as he nodded in approval.