Pease Greeters

Most of us have seen the video of Bert Brady with the Welcome Home a Hero Program out of Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. Well I was recently informed that if you are in Hew Hampshire you can do the same thing with the Pease Greeters!

Pease Greeter Leader Ed Johnson writes on their web page:

In the Spring of 2005 the Seacoast Detachment, Marine Corps League met their first flight of Veterans returning from the Near East at the Pease Air Terminal in Portsmouth, NH. We now have flights both returning and heading overseas.

For the first few flights there were only a few Marines greeting them in a rather sterile and cavernous room. Since then the Greeters group has grown to well over 100 elders and youths all offering their thanks and greetings for these heros.

The Greeters have not missed a flight since inception, over 120 visits.

They assemble in an hours notice. Some drive as much as 100 miles to be there. They are too old to fight but young enough to care. They show respect for the troops and for their service to our Country.

First, the returning troops are processed through Customs and then set foot on US soil many for the first time in over a year. The 100 or so men and women are now home from the Global War on Terrorism.

For those heading overseas, this is their last stop in the US.

Then the troops arrive to a boisterous welcome. The Greeters are proud of them and give the troops hearty applause, sincere handshakes, and expressions of "welcome home or welcome to New Hampshire, thanks for a job well done, or we'll be here to greet you upon your safe return."

Everyone has a camera to record this happy event. Often the troops want pictures of the greeters. They hug and thank them for being there in the wee hours of the morning or late in the evening. Business cards are exchanged. Friends are made.

Soon they move on to enjoy hot coffee, doughnuts, pizza and other refreshments ON AMERICAN SOIL.

Initially cell phones were freely offered by the Greeters for the troops to call home with news of their safe arrival. Now a bank of twenty permanently mounted phones may be used free of charge exclusively for the veterans courtesy of Whaleback Systems, a company located in the Pease Tradeport.

Before leaving, all gather in the great room for group picture taking. Pictures of the heroes passing through Pease are posted on the walls of the airport in the hall aptly named "Hero's Walk".

Before boarding, the troops stand, uncover, and the Chaplain offers a Prayer of Thanks for their safe arrival and prays for their speedy and safe return to their home and families. One hundred plus voices say "Amen" in unison.

More than one has a tear in his eye.

Then they are gone.

Gone home to their families or to fight in the Global War on Terrorism.

They will always remember their welcome by the PEASE Family of Greeters.

Bravo Greeters, and Thank you for your service to OUR Country.