Troop greeters lauded at home and nationwide

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Congratulations to our wonderful Bangor International Airport troop greeters, who were honored recently by the Maine Tourism Association with the Maine Highlands Regional Tourism Award.

Longtime greeter Bill Knight of Bangor accepted the award on behalf of his fellow greeters during the association’s 85th annual meeting and awards luncheon earlier this month at the Harraseeket Inn in Freeport.

Formed during the Gulf War in 1991 to welcome American soldiers home from oversees, the troop greeters have, since 2003, met more than 300,000 military personnel on their way to or from serving abroad.

They greet those serving their country and passing through BIA any time, day or night, in all kinds of weather.

M.E. Wakeman of the U.S. Marine Corps stationed in Cherry Point, N.C., wrote to thank troop greeters for welcoming “the Banshees of Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron One” at 4 a.m. on a cold Saturday in January.

“You were the first Americans we encountered upon our return from combat duty in Iraq, and I cannot begin to express my heartfelt thanks and admiration for what you do, on a daily basis, for our servicemen and women.

“To have fellow Americans standing there at such an early hour to greet and welcome us home is almost beyond description.”

Jill Marten of Woodridge, Ill., “a very grateful Marine mom,” thanks those who welcomed home her son’s Marine unit after 71/2 months in Iraq.

“What a warm, wonderful feeling to hear that people had greeted them and given them phone cards and cell phones to use,” she wrote.

In mid-March, Hank and Alice Radziwon drove from Southington, Conn., to Bangor “to meet our son at the airport on his way to Fallujah, Iraq.”

“We only had an hour with him, but I don’t think we ever saw him smile so much,” they wrote of the sight they witnessed at 12:30 a.m. that day.

They, too, were warmly greeted when it was learned they had driven such a distance to bid their son farewell.

On behalf of “every friend and family member who cannot be there,” they thank the troop greeters for their “magnificent effort” to “hug and shake the hands” of troops passing through BIA.

The Radziwons hope to return in October and be standing in line with the Maine troop greeters at BIA “as they clap and welcome Charlie Company 1st [Battalion] 25th Marines back home again.”

Karen Burton of Garland forwarded an e-mail from her twin living in Connecticut, Carolyn, describing the welcome Burton’s nephew received at 2:45 a.m., when he returned from seven months in Iraq.

Burton added her own thanks for the troop greeters who welcomed her son-in-law and members of the 152nd Field Artillery home after a year in Iraq.

“We may be a small population,” Burton wrote, “but we have big hearts for the men and women who serve our country.”

Louis McNeil, Fort Jones, Calif., wrote the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce because she didn’t “know who one thanks for the outstanding job that is being done at your airport.”

The Chamber forwarded her e-mail.

McNeil wrote that her son “was greeted warmly, they shook his hand and thanked him for his service to his country, and handed him a cell phone and told him he could call whomever he wanted.”

She appreciates this “very special community with some very dedicated and caring individuals.”

“My family and I just want to thank all of you who greeted our Marines on their first American-soil stop,” wrote Janey Wilson of Lebanon, Ore.

“My husband and I are both veterans, and I’ve served outside the United States and understand how important that first stop back home is.”

Her Marine son was greeted on his return from Iraq to Camp Pendleton.

“Because he was able to call, we were on time, in San Diego, to greet him. Thank you again.”

Rod Cushman of Richmond, Va., wrote he recently read somewhere about the troop greeters at BIA.

“As a former Marine, I want to say thanks to them as well as to our service members.”

U.S. Marine dad Jim Nankervis, of Midlothian, Va., thanks troop greeters for the “immeasurable” effect they have on the troops and their loved ones.

“The volunteers are there because they truly understand the sacrifices the young men and women are making.”

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.