A WARM WELCOME

A WARM WELCOME

One of the benefits of living 45 minutes from  Baltimore Washington International Airport is taking part in organized homecomings for our deployed troops.   Operation Welcome Home Maryland has been doing just that for six years.  Folks from miles away come to take part in these highly emotional events just to let our troops know how much their service and sacrifice is appreciated.   OWHM has a detailed website with a calendar of every incoming flight  planned each  month.

Anyone who wants to attend an event is welcomed and asked to bring items to contribute to gift bags that are made up when we arrive. Sometimes there are a couple dozen volunteers and sometimes hundreds.  Same with the troops coming home....... There can be a couple dozen  or a few hundred.   That figure is unknown until the day of the flight.   There is a great sense of patriotism and appreciation for our warriors as the volunteers set up a production line to stuff gift bags with hand made cards, all sorts of snacks and a bottle of water.   It is a system that has been refined over the years and takes no time at all to complete. There are corporations that contribute, girl scout and boy scout troops, patriotic organizations,  veteran organizations ....many donating much of the contents of the  gift bags.  Once the volunteers have assembled we open with a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance facing a large Stars and Stripes attached to a wall above the area.   Without fail I shed a few tears and get goose bumps.....and I doubt I am the only one who has that reaction to our flag and our pledge to our country.   It happens every time!

  In  the area where the homecomings take place the walls are decorated with wonderful handmade posters made by children.There are American flags everywhere and there is a long cordoned off walkway where the incoming troops, men and women of all branches of our military walk past the welcoming crowds.

A horn blasts and the double doors open and the first of the troops come through, completely surprised to see  enthusiastic crowds waiting on the other side of those doors,  shouting welcome home, shaking hands and hugging them if they can get close enough.  You can feel the energy in the air!!!!    After long deployments many have their families with them and all are balancing heavy luggage (and sometimes family pets)  There are a few in our crowd who are related to someone coming home who will have their reunion for all of us to share ....but the majority are Americans who passionately want to show their support.

The objective is to keep the line moving while we welcome them with open arms and hearts filled with pride ....handing them goodie bags and sending them on their way.    For many it is their final destination and for others it is a dash to catch a connecting flight.   There is always someone to give them directions or assist any way needed.

For each event I wore my traditional Stars and Stripes tie and a Marine Corps t-shirt.   I stationed myself at the end of the line so that I could hand out oval white decals that say "I Served Iraq" or "I Served Afghanistan," stickers that were always a huge hit!!!  So many of our troops have served in both countries and were so sweet when they would humbly ask if they could have one of each,  and of course they could have them!!!   Before we knew it three hours or more had passed and there were no more troops to greet that day............ Everyone felt so exhilarated as the crowd dispersed, knowing that there would be more homecomings to attend......because it feels so good that you want to participate again and again. It has been too long since I have been to one of these events, and now that I am retired I am going to get back to BWI for another day of shared patriotism and camaraderie!