Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Richard A. Cody poses for a photograph with members of local Girl Scout troops who traveled to Dallas Fort Worth Airport March 4 to welcome home troops from Iraq and Afghanistan.
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Posted on 03/08/2006 6:06:35 PM PST by SandRat
DALLAS, Texas (Army News Service, March 7, 2006) – More than 260 troops from the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force were treated to a special ‘welcome home’ from Gen. Richard A. Cody, vice chief of staff of the Army March 4.
Cody joined airport staff and volunteers from the “Welcome Home a Hero” program at the airport to greet the service members.
“America is behind you,” Cody said in an address to the troops. “I know how important that it is for you to know, and you are about to see exactly what I mean here at Dallas/Fort Worth.”
But the preview from the vice chief of staff did little to prepare the troops for the welcome awaiting them outside the customs doors.
Hundreds of people, including Girl Scout troops, Vietnam Veterans of America chapters, senior citizens clubs and individuals wanting to give personal thanks to America’s returning troops lined the terminal exit and filled the airport with deafening cheers from the first service member to the last.
“Wow,” said one young specialist from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). “I’ve never seen anything like this. Thank you, all I can say is thank you.”
In comments later to the gathered crowd and reporters, Cody singled out one group of supporters.
“I’d like to thank the Vietnam Veterans I see here today,” Cody said. “These troops are truly standing on your firm shoulders and it means a great deal to them to see you here today.”
“I didn’t have this when I came home,” said a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 920 out of Denton, Texas. “We are here every day to ensure these troops do. They don’t know it now, but in 30 years, their hearts and minds will often revisit this moment.”
After greeting the troops, Cody walked the line of supporters, thanking them for not only lifting the spirit of the troops, but also his. Encircled by several troops of Brownies and Daisies from the Girl Scouts of America, Cody signed autographs, took pictures and thanked the young patriots for their special gift of Girl Scout cookies for the arriving troops.
“You are the first piece of home our troops see after six months of combat,” Cody said to the crowd. “Before their family or friends have a chance to welcome them with open arms, you do. Thank you. On behalf of the entire Army family, thank you. All I can say is, you all do things big down here in Texas and our troops love you for it.”
Cody also spoke to the audience of his recent trip to Iraq, where he had the opportunity to visit thousands of troops from the 101st Airborne Division, 4th Infantry Division, 172nd Stryker Brigade and others.
“I saw our training validated. I saw our emerging doctrine confirmed,” Cody said. “I saw our investment in leadership development paying off. And I saw the best equipped and led troops our Army has fielded in my 34 years in service.”
“At one Forward Operating Base, I re-enlisted 150 Soldiers, and not for two or three years, but for five or six years,” he said. “By re-enlisting, they were declaring their belief in their unit, in their fellow Soldiers and leaders, and the U.S. Army. They were declaring their belief in their mission. And they were confirming their undying love for this Nation and their oath to keep it safe.”
The Welcome Home a Hero program began at the airport in June, 2004. It is the largest community service project in North Texas, according to Ken Capps, airport spokesman, and recently, a public service campaign was launched during a visit by the Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston, to increase awareness amongst civic groups and the public.
Since June, 2004, more than 100,000 troops have received the same enthusiastic welcome, supported by hundreds of volunteers who ensure every flight, no matter the time of day or night, receives the same treatment, said Jim Crites, vice president of the DFW airport.
Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Richard A. Cody poses for a photograph with members of local Girl Scout troops who traveled to Dallas Fort Worth Airport March 4 to welcome home troops from Iraq and Afghanistan.(1,800 x 1,173 pixels - 690 KB)
I live in Fort Worth; a couple friends and I emailed the "Welcome Home a Hero" folks and offered to be there but never got a reply. Grrrr.
bump to the top
BTT
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