The withdrawal of 34,000 American troops from Afghanistan by this time next year was one of President Obama's biggest announcements of his State of the Union address last night.

The news hits home for thousands of people across the nation and in our area with loved ones overseas.

Eyewitness News found a soldier and a mother who both hope the president keeps his word.

With tears in her eyes and a smile on her face, Cherri Garcia watched cellphone video of her son coming home from Afghanistan after being deployed for a year. He got back yesterday to Bamberg, Germany, where he's stationed, which is why his mom couldn't make it.

"I wish I could have been there so bad," Garcia said.

Happy her son is safe and sound, Garcia said she hopes other families will have her same joy and relief this time next year.

"In my opinion, it's beyond time to move that forward and I'm very thankful that that's the direction that we're taking," said Garcia.

In his State of the Union address, the president reiterated his pledge to wind down the war in Afghanistan before the end of 2014. He called al-Qaida a shadow of its former self, saying it doesn't pose a big enough threat anymore for tens of thousands of troops to fight abroad.

Cherri's son was awarded a Purple Heart after a bomb exploded on a convoy last may. He suffered a concussion and a neck; Cherri is glad he made it out alive.

"One of the soldiers in the Humvee the truck in front of him took the brunt of the hit. The soldier in that Humvee lost both of his legs."

That solider who lost his legs was Spec. Tyler Jefferies. He was escorted home to Concord by the patriot guard and veterans. Ironically, among that group was Spec. Joey Masek.

"I was part of that bring-home on my bike, escorting him home," said Masek.

Masek has already done two tours in Afghanistan and is set to go back later this year. After seeing too many of his friends come and go, he said he hopes the president keeps his promises.

"I'll be disappointed; we've been there so many years, it's time to get out," he said.

While Masek is not sure when he'll be deployed, he says he can only hope he comes back with the group who returns next

year. "It's amazing, coming home after a year, seeing your family, your children, your parents all running to you. It's just great to tell them you love and miss them. There's nothing like it."

The president said now U.S. troops will help countries like Yemen and Somalia provide their own security against newer pop-up al-Qaida cells.