--can you be there? Please forward to local friends.
California Freepers, scramble for intercept!
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Posted on 12/15/2007 9:50:58 AM PST by trooprally
The below message was received from Eaglesnest1 who doesn't quite yet know how to post a thread. Please help if you can.
I'm also not sure the mother can actually make it to the airport so that is why this Welcome Home is so important.
Thanks
[Mr] Trooprally
_______________________________________________________
Hey FReepers,
Does anyone live near the Oakland, CA airport? We have a request from the family of an airman returning Sunday from his second deployment in Iraq for him to receive a welcome home from as many troop supporters as possible.
This information comes through Gathering of Eagles and Welcome Home, Heroes (a fairly new organization founded by a GOE member www.aheros-welcome.org ). There is no official Welcome Home Heroes group in our area yet, so it is up to those who hear the call and will come to give this young man the hero’s welcome he deserves. Here is the info as it was received:
* The Airman flying is Ricky Glass, 2nd Deployment in Iraq, Oakland
* International Airport, Southwest Airlines Flight 420, ETA 1515,
* December 16, Sunday. Pass the word, please.”
I have spoken with Ricky’s mother. She is very appreciative of any support we – the general public - can give this welcome home. Her son does not know this is planned, so it will be a wonderful surprise! However, her objective is greater than just giving her son a hero’s welcome. She wants the other troops still deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan to get word of Ricky’s welcome and know that despite media reports, many Americans understand, appreciate and support the work our troops are doing protecting our country.
Ricky’s plane arrives Southwest Airlines at 3:15pm THIS SUNDAY. His mother requests we meet in front of the Southwest terminal between 2pm and 2:30pm, then we will all go into the baggage claim area together. Bring flags (the bigger the better, but any size is fine), banners, signs written on posterboard, etc. welcoming him home, thanking him for his service. If you want, wear red, white and blue or something patriotic. Let’s make this a wonderful celebration for Ricky.
Please forward this information to those who you think would be interested in honoring Ricky Glass. As always please use discretion, as we only want those there who will be supportive in how they greet him.
Thank you for your help! Questions? FREEPmail me.
eaglesnest1
Please make all requests and coordination through Eaglesnest1 since I'm on the "right" coast.
Ping to some that I know in CA.
Please ping local any lists you have.
Thanks
[Mr] T
Bay Area Ping (from the East Coast!)
I am forwarding on. God bless this family and their son.
Welcome home and a big thank you.
Thanks for the ping. I just might be able to make that.
Bump for a great cause!
Thank you all you are participating in this. I have been away all morning at the Wreaths Across America ceremony in Dixon about an hour east of here. It was FANTASTIC! Over 200 people came.
FYI, Ricky’s mother is flying in from Arizona to be at the Oakland airport when her son arrives. She plans to be there early and would like us to gather in front of the Southwest terminal by 2:30pm, then we will go into baggage claim together.
She is a Free Republic person at heart - though she doesn’t know about Free Republic yet. She is doing everything she can to get media coverage of this welcome home. She has contacted a number of local TV stations and newspapers in the hopes one or all will cover his big welcome home so that the news will get back to his comrades in Iraq and Afghanistan that the American people ARE behind our troops.
Thank you for spreading the word so as many people are there as possible.
BUMP!!!
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My heart will be there.
I don’t know anyone, unfortunatly, and we live too far away. However, a friend of mine will put it up on some of the milblogs to see what we can do. Please pass along our heartfelt thanks to this fine American and his mom who is equally admirable for raising such a great son!
A friend of mine will post alert the military blogs. We can’t be there unfortunately except in spirit. God bless this great soldier and his mom! Great Americans!
Thank you soooo much! I know this mom will be humbled and amazed that so many care - whether all can come or not!
Thanks for the beautiful posting! Awesome.
Glad to be a part of this, however small. Let me know how it turned out please.
Thank you for checking in. Will be posted a general note in just a minute and am forwarding photos to trooprally in case there is time to help me post them during this full holiday week.
THANK YOU,THANK YOU to all those who helped get the word out on the short notice Welcome Home for airman, Ricky Glass, who arrived at the Oakland Airport in Northern California after two deployments in Iraq. Due to everyone’s stellar efforts approximately 30 people were in attendance, from school children to Vietnam vets. We made quite a crowd in baggage claim as we waited with flags and signs for his delayed flight – so much so, that I collected the emails of several individuals who want to be informed the next time one of our servicemen or women is coming home! Oakland City Councilman, Larry Reid was in attendance and helped so much. (If I am not mistaken, this councilman is also a Vietnam vet.) It is my understanding that due to a press release from his office representatives from at least 2 major television networks were on hand to film Ricky’s return for the evening news. (Ricky’s mom had contacted these networks on her own earlier in the week with less success.) Though no mention was made of it in the broadcast as it finally aired on the local CBS affiliate, Stephen Klink who has newly offered to establish A Hero’s Welcome chapter in our area, was able to speak to the reporters about the A Heros Welcome organization. (Stephen in the black suit and myself in the red coat are visible speaking with a reporter in the background during the CBS interview of Ricky’s mom.) When Glass’ flight finally was confirmed at the gate, Councilman Reid was able to ensure that airport security held back the other travelers, so Ricky could travel down the short escalator alone, in full view of the cameras. Ricky was VERY surprised and very touched to see all of us and the cameras there in addition to family and friends. Having learned Ricky loves motorcycles, on behalf of A Heroes Welcome, Stephen presented Ricky with a gift certificate to a local Harley Davidson dealership good for a discount on a one day motorcycle rental. I was able to thank him for his service and give him a CD copy of the song for our troops, STAND UP. All this was done with cameras rolling. So, given the short notice, this was a SUPER welcome home for one of our heroes. Thank you, thank you again to all who were able to come out as well as all of those who sent out the notice and covered the event in prayer. We are looking forward to conducting these Welcome Homes on a regular basis moving forward for our returning heroes.
Great! Thank you for making sure he had a great welcome home.
God bless him and we thank him for his service.
Thanks for the update.
It just so happens [Mrs] T and myself just got back from seeing our son returned today, Monday, from Iraq. This was his first tour. He says that Iraq is so calm now that he wants to go to Afghanistan for his next tour.
[Mr] T
God Bless your Son. So glad he is home safe and sound.
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