A thankful welcome from those who served
By Ralph Lauer
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
D/FW AIRPORT - First thing every morning, Herman Amidon makes a call, then another, and another. He checks the arrival time for the Army's R&R, or rest and recuperation, flight, then calls members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5074 in Roanoke to arrange rides to Dallas/Fort Worth Airport.
A post member follows the routine every day of every week, regardless of weather or holidays or any other interruption.
A remote area of D/FW's Terminal B is where about 60,000 U.S. service members have stepped onto American soil for the first time since being deployed overseas.
Since July 5, every one of those returning troops has seen the thankful face of a member of VFW Post 5074.
VFW member Roger Kammerer started the program after reading about the Army's rest and recuperation program in the Keller Citizen. He thought it would be uplifting for the troops to be greeted by former military personnel.
The flights leave Kuwait daily and bring soldiers, plus a few Marines and Air Force personnel, back to the United States for leave.
Each mission begins at D/FW, when a charter flight under contract to the Army takes soldiers to Atlanta and then on to Kuwait, with a refueling stop in Europe. The flight returns the next day with a group of soldiers beginning its 15-day leave.
The post members have vowed that they will greet every arriving soldier until they are all home.
"We know what they are going through," said retired Air Force Col. Helen Ross, the only female member of the 140-person post. "I thoroughly enjoy going out there. It makes my day."
The flights arrive at Gate 39 in Terminal B. Anyone who would like to join the airport greeters can check the arrival time each day at (972) 574-0392.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY RALPH LAUER | STAR-TELEGRAM
Above, troops arriving on a rest and recuperation flight from Kuwait receive welcomes from retired Air Force Col. Helen Ross and Roger Kammerer, right, members of VFW Post 5074 in Roanoke. Since July 5, the group has been dedicated to greeting each soldier who passes through Gate 39 in Terminal B at D/FW Airport.