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Half-million milestone Troop greeters meet 500,000th soldier to pass through Bangor International Airport

Half-million milestone

Spc. Tommitrea Minnifee of Dallas, of the 546th Area Support Medical Company, gets a hug from 9-year-old troop greeter Paige Daniels of Bangor as Minnifee and other troops arrived around 3:30 a.m. Saturday at Bangor International Airport en route to Kuwait and eventually Iraq. Minnifee was designated as the 500,000th soldier to pass through BIA since the beginning of the March 2003 troop deployment of U.S. armed forces in Iraq.

BANGOR – The 500,000th service member welcomed by the Maine Troop Greeters at Bangor International Airport was barely awake when she disembarked from the military transport carrying her and her unit to Iraq, but the cheering and flashing cameras quickly opened her eyes.

Spc. Tommitrea Minnifee, 27, of Dallas, a U.S. Army logistics specialist, said, “I have spots” from all the photos taken.

The plane heading to Camp Anaconda in Balad, Iraq, arrived at 3:30 a.m. Saturday and was met by a crowd of more than 60 troop greeters waving flags and offering handshakes and hugs to the military men and women headed overseas to the war zone.

The Maine Troop Greeters come to the airport from all over eastern Maine, day or night, to provide warm welcomes or supporting sendoffs to those who serve our country in all branches of the military.

Minnifee, along with 76 others from the 546th Area Support Medical Company and 151 members of the 418th Transportation Company, both based in Fort Hood, Texas, marks the half-million milestone for the troop greeters who in 2003 began counting the servicemen and women to fly through BIA.

Troop greeter Debbie Bickford, 54, of Waterville, who has met troops for four years, said being at the airport to provide a hero’s welcome to those who serve in the military is very special.

“It’s the most rewarding thing I’ve done in my whole life,” she said. “My sons have traveled through here two times with the 101st Airborne.”

Bickford was on her way to a weekend retreat at Lily Bay on Moosehead Lake with two friends when her plans changed so the trio could greet the troops.

“All you have to do is come once, and you’re totally addicted,” Bickford said.

Susan Pollard of Fairfield and Julie Kenyon of Westbrook stood with Bickford and met two Friday night flights, one headed out and one returning from Iraq, as well as the 3:30 a.m. flight.

With the Saturday morning military transport, the troop greeters have welcomed a total of 2,505 flights and 500,008 service members, along with 58 service dogs, traveling through BIA. The greeters group has about 170 volunteer members, and most of the 40 or so “regulars” were on hand Saturday.

Maj. Mike Cathern, one of the first to make it through the long line of greeters Saturday morning, said he never expected to see anyone at Bangor’s airport.

“We had no idea at all,” he said. “At 3:30 in the morning, I thought everybody would be asleep.”

Each man and woman on the plane was given an L.L. Bean canvas bag filled with goodies from area groups, businesses and BIA.

“Is all of Bangor here?” asked Cathleen Burgess, 54, chief nurse of the medical unit. “I’m thrilled beyond words.”

Just as Minnifee found the end of the line of greeters, the crowd broke into song, singing “Happy Birthday” to one of the men, who stood smiling in the middle of the airport.

Troop greeter and state legislator Charles “Dusty” Fisher estimates he has seen a majority of the 2,505 flights and “I’m guessing 400,000” of the servicemen and women. He presented Minnifee and Burgess with proclamations from Gov. John Baldacci naming the week of Aug. 18-25 Bangor Troop Greeter and Troop Appreciation Week and letters of support from the Legislature in recognition of the troop greeters.

On hand at the event were Adj. Gen. Bill Libby; U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud; Brewer Deputy Mayor Gail Kelly, who is the regional representative for U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe, and Bangor City Council members. All issued statements of thanks and support to the unit members.

First Lt. Jack Holder, 54, of Austin, Texas, a leader of the transportation unit, was given a key to the city of Bangor and a city flag and also was presented with an autographed, framed photo of the troop greeters by member Bill Knight.

Holder was moved by the sentiments and the presentations.

“It was the first time we’ve ever seen [Holder] tear up,” said Cpl. Kim Misenheimer, 35, of Silver Springs, Md.

Soon after the presentation, the announcement was made that the flight was boarding, and the troop greeters again lined the hallway leading to the international gate, shaking hands, giving hugs and offering well-wishes.

“We’re waiting on you to come back,” troop greeter Jerry Mundy of Bangor was heard saying.

BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY JOHN CLARKE RUSS

First Sgt. Jack Holder (center) of Austin, Texas and other members of the 418th Transportation Company out of Fort Hood, Texas, react to a warm welcome from the Maine Troop Greeters at Bangor International Airport early Saturday morning. The soldiers were en route to Kuwait and then Iraq to help the coalition forces.