Weary Travelers Support Operation Iraqi Freedom Troops at BWI

American Forces Press Service ^ | Oct 31, 2003 | Donna Miles

[Spruce]

Weary Travelers Support Operation Iraqi Freedom Troops at BWI

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31, 2003 — Nearly everyone has experienced it at one time or another: an airport bogged down by bad weather, delayed and cancelled flights, and cranky, overtired travelers wanting nothing more than to get to their destinations.

That's exactly what Will Ross, an administrative judge for the Defense Department's Office of Hearings and Appeals in Los Angeles, encountered Oct. 27 at Baltimore/Washington International Airport.

But what he witnessed that day, he said, "made me proud to be an American, and also told me why we will win this war (on terrorism)."

Like many of his fellow passengers, Ross had been forced to spend the night in Baltimore. His outbound flight, scheduled for the night before, had been cancelled due to the California wildfires. They had forced the Los Angeles International Airport to close, and the ripple effect drove domestic travel nationwide into a tailspin.

When Ross reported to the United Airlines counter the following morning for the next scheduled flight to Los Angeles, bad weather and aircraft mechanical problems made the prospect of a timely trip even more grim.

As he waited in the terminal, Ross noticed many soldiers in their desert camouflage uniforms, newly arrived from Southwest Asia. All, like Ross and the other passengers at the airport, were awaiting connecting flights — but in the soldiers' case, it was to begin two weeks of rest and recuperation leave.

Flight delays continued and the airport had become, in Ross's words, "a zoo." By the afternoon, one flight to Denver had been delayed several hours. United Airlines agents kept asking for volunteers to give up their seats and take another flight, but Ross said they weren't getting many takers.

Finally, Ross said a United Airlines spokeswoman got on the public address system and made a desperate plea. "Folks, as you can see, there are a lot of soldiers in the waiting area," the agent said. "They only have 14 days of leave and we're trying to get them where they need to go without spending any more time in an airport than they have to.

"We sold them all tickets knowing we would oversell the flight. If we can, we want to get them all on this flight. We want all the soldiers to know … we respect what you're doing, we are here for you and we love you," the agent continued. "The entire terminal of cranky, tired, travel-weary people -- a cross-section of America -- broke into sustained and heartfelt applause," Ross said. "We're talking about several hundred people applauding, a whole terminal.

"The soldiers looked surprised and very modest," he continued. "Most of them just looked at their boots." Many of the travelers in the terminal wiped away tears.

"And, yes," Ross said, "people lined up to take the later flight and all the soldiers went to Denver on that flight."

Ross said he figured that 30 or 40 people had suddenly jumped at the chance to offer their seats to U.S. soldiers.

That moment, he said, reinforced his patriotism and his heartfelt belief that the United States will prevail in the war on terror.

"I think people realized that this fight is going to be long and drawn-out, and these kids are in the thick of it," he said. "It was heartwarming to see their outpouring of support."

[tgslTakoma]

Hey! I forgot to ask... Where 'ya been?

I finally got my pix posted from last Saturday. You weren't on the thread prodding me to get it done, so I was slackin'.

[kayak]

See #19 and #22.

[nunya bidness]

I've been deeply involved in sanding the back of the house in preparation for paint.

Rest assured that when you do, *sigh* get pics posted, it will be past my bedtime.

Such is life. Or in other words, your slacking hasn't missed my attention but rather, was supplanted by real life.

And don't give me any of the standard excuses like: I'm a working mother, Anthrax attack, forgot the snipers were in my hood, too busy coordinating protests, took a nap, etc.

Please. Those are so tired.

[tgslTakoma]

:-)

Now, there's the nunya bidness I know...

[SandRat]

Just a thought -----

When you see a service member on the street, in the air port, or at your place of business in uniform do one or more of the following;

1. Shake their hand and say thank you or -
2. If you're a lady give them a hug and say thank you or -
3. If they are in line behind you for a coffee, soda, etc. pay their bill and say thank you or -
4. If you run a concession at the airport comp them or give them a discount or -
5. If you run a business in town give them the same discount on purchases that you'd give your employees or -
6. How many more ways can you think of to say thank you we love you and encourage others to do the same?????

[mystery-ak]

To those wanting to greet Mike at BWI...he is arriving at 5:45am....that's too early for all of you especially on a work day...

[SandRat]

We can tell by your tag line that you'll not be on FR for two weeks at least.

Tell him thank you for all of us.

[mystery-ak]

I'll have to sneak on...he's gotta sleep sometime.

[SandRat]

Item's most wanted by returnee's

SLEEP in a real bed
LONNNNNG Hot Showers
Clean Clothes
Real Home Cooked Food
Cold Beer
Appropriate gratification and appreciation from loved ones

The order varies but the after a long hot shower everything else is up for grabs for the sequence.

[kitkat]

What a wonderful idea! I'm not within hundreds of miles of any of those airports, or I would BE THERE. These brave heroes deserve our support.

[mystery-ak]

a steak and beer coming up for Mike....I don't know how much time I will have with him...that Chinook that went down was one of his....he'll be spending time with their families.

[SandRat]

From past experience I can tell you that those soldiers and their families are part of his family now. Support him and support and remember them through out the year.

Toughest letters I ever had to write home were the letters to tell the waiting wives, parents, family that their husband, son, brother was coming home for burial.

[MeekOneGOP]

Excellent suggestions !

[Flora McDonald]

Thank you for that great post! The responses on this thread are why I love Free Republic.

[VOA]

Bump...for folks who may have missed the article for this thread...
and a reminder to the forum that NOVEMBER 13 is the general deadline for mailing
holiday care-packages.
SO...that means we're coming up on the last shopping weekend for our folks serving
in about 160 countries around the globe

[VOA]

NOW HEAR THIS ALL LURKERS/POSTERS:

THIS WEEKEND (November 8 and 9) is the LAST SHOPPING WEEKEND for Parcel Post mailing
of care packages to our BEST AND BRIGHTEST who will be stationed far from home for the holidays
(deadline for this inexpensive mailing route is November 13th).

TIME to:
SHOP
BOX
and
MAIL

THAT IS ALL!

till next time...

[VOA]

I know I'm like a broken record, but here goes...

NOW HEAR THIS ALL LURKERS/POSTERS:

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH IS THE DEADLINE for inexpensive Parcel Post mailing of miltary
care-packages to our BEST AND BRIGHTEST who will be stationed far from home for the holidays.
...some of these folks will be spending their first Thanksgiving, Christmas and
New Years away from home and family, in one of the about 160 countries...

TIME to:
SHOP
BOX
and
MAIL

for shipping advice, see threads at these URLs:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1003802/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/997310/posts

THAT IS ALL!
At Ease!