MILTON -- A large group of volunteers was waiting to unload the U-Haul truck when Major Ray and Major Ruth Batholomew, the new leaders of the Salvation Army in Milton pulled up in front of their new home on Center Street.

"It was amazing," said Maj. Ruth. "They had the truck unloaded in less than an hour."

They were glad for the help, as Maj. Ray is recovering from major spinal surgery and is unable to lift and carry heavy objects.

That was the welcome the couple, whose assignment to Milton was their 11th move in 36 years of service, received from the Milton congregation.

The couple and their son arrived in Milton on Wednesday from Wilmington, Del. Both are looking forward to becoming pastors and CEO in Milton. At the Wilmington citadel, they were the pastors of the English-speaking congregation. A large staff ran the citadel, and they had no other responsibilities other than pastoral care.

"We're looking forward to the slower pace here," said Maj. Ray. "It'll be nice to get back to a regular routine."

Coming to Milton is a homecoming of sorts for Maj. Ruth, who is a fourth generation Salvationist. She grew up in South Williamsport, and her father was corps sergeant major at the Williamsport citadel.

Maj. Ray grew up in a foster home in upstate New York, near Albany.

He found the Salvation Army facility in Cohoes, N.Y. and got involved there, working with young people, and decided to make the Salvation Army his life's work.

Both have had extensive experience in emergency response. Each ran a canteen at Ground Zero in new York City following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, they worked in Florida after five hurricanes battered the state, and they were in Louisiana after Katrina and Rita.

Although they've only been in Milton for a few days, they are already hard at work, getting ready for the Christmas season and planning their ministry in Milton and the surrounding communities.