The community opened its arms Monday night to welcome back Toby Pennels more than a year after the well-known Windham resident left for military service in Iraq.

Pennels received a welcome home party at the Windham Veterans Center located behind the mall.

“My friends have a little more gray hair, and so do I, but it’s the same old Windham, which is good,” said Pennels, a self-employed stockbroker and a member of the Windham School Committee and Sebago Lake Rotary Club.

He is also a reserve colonel in the U.S. Army and left Windham during the first week of September in 2006 for two months of training, then flew to Baghdad to command the 358th Civil Affairs Brigade.

Pennels, 48, was in charge of 1,000 civil affairs personnel and acted as a liaison between the elected government and the traditional tribal leaders, who still hold a lot of influence.

“It’s all about compromise,” said Pennels. “And we try to get them to point out the bad guys for us.”

He said he left an Iraq that was in a much better condition than when he arrived last November.

While oversees, Pennels stayed in daily contact with his wife Brenda and three children through telephone calls and e-mail.

“I think it was more of an escape for him,” said Brenda Pennels of the communication. She said they mostly talked about what was going on in Maine and not the war.

They met through the ROTC program while attending UMass and had a military wedding in June 1983. That year Brenda Pennels was sent to Honduras during the Grenada invasion as a military police officer. She was in the U.S. Army for 18 years, first as active duty and then in the reserves. She left in 2000 as a major.

“Very clearly his family is elated to have him back,” said Major General John Libby, who is in charge of the Maine National Guard. He was there to present a letter to Pennels signed by Gov. John Baldacci.

There were a few changes for Pennels upon his return.

“What’s that on your upper lip, is that new?” he asked fellow school board member Jeff Pierce, now mustached. Additional changes include a family of kids who can drive and a large flat screen television in his living room.

“I think he likes that part,” said Brenda Pennels.

“It’s always a little strange being back,” said Pennels. This was his third time being called up for duty. He was sent to Bosnia in 1997 and Kuwait from 2002 to 2003.

He said it’s good to be back in civilian life.

“I like that my bed is comfortable,” said Pennels. “I like that I wake up first thing in the morning and I don’t know what my schedule is. It’s good to have that again.

Toby1: Toby Pennels exchanges a hug with Norma Rogers at his welcome home gathering at the VFW. Pennels spent 14 months away from Windham, 2 months in training and 12 in Iraq. The posters on the walls were made by fourth graders at Manchester Elementary School.Toby2: School Board and Rotary Club member Toby Pennels shakes hands with Major General John Libby, who is in charge of the Maine National Guard. Pennels spent 14 months away from Windham, 2 months in training and 12 in Iraq, and returned home this month. The posters on the walls were made by fourth graders at Manchester Elementary School.Toby3: From left: Jeff Vermette of the school board and Tom Noonan of the Rotary Club welcome back friend and prodigal member Toby Pennels at the VFW center on Monday. Pennels returned this month after spending 14 months away from Windham; 2 months in training and 12 in Iraq. Toby4: This is one of the posters made for the return of Toby Pennels by fourth graders at Manchester Elementary School. Pennels returned to Windham this month after being in Iraq for a year.