This is a blue state:Two fire engines come screaming down the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport runway, with sirens blaring, heading straight toward a plane full of Soldiers that just arrived from Kuwait International Airport.
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What the Soldiers didn’t know was that they were about to experience what Dallas-Fort Worth Airport fire and rescue teams call a “water salute,” to honor troops coming home on R and R leave from Iraq. The water turrets on the fire engines shoot water arcs into the air at a rate of 1,500 gallons per minute. The aircraft drives under the arc.
“I didn’t expect such a welcome,” said Pfc. Heather England, a 578th Signal Co. satellite communications operator. “Soldiers aboard the plane got a bit choked up as they watched the water splash on the plane’s windows.”
Security guards held back the hundreds of clapping and screaming Texas residents who cheered the 200 Soldiers as they entered the air terminal.
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“An older lady asked me if I had any children,” Friedly said. “When I told her I had a girl, she took me by the arm and directed me to a group of volunteers sitting at the end of the corridor. They handed me a pink teddy bear, some candy and a bouquet of flowers for my wife. I was overwhelmed by the kindness of so many strangers."
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The volunteers perform this welcome every day at the airport. Hundreds of civilians spend hours greeting Soldiers, thanking Soldiers and giving to Soldiers.
...
“After being stationed in Germany and Iraq for so long, seeing this display of affection at the U.S. airport has definitely reminded me why I love Americans, especially my fellow Texans,” England said.
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Texas-sized welcome for Soldiers on R and R from Iraq
by 1st Lt. Alisha Ramsey
578th Signal Co., 440th Signal Bn.
Forward Operating Base Speicher, Iraq
Two fire engines come screaming down the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport runway, with sirens blaring, heading straight toward a plane full of Soldiers that just arrived from Kuwait International Airport.
“The flight attendant announced that we were stopping to wait for some equipment, that’s when we heard the sirens,” said Staff Sgt. Donald A. Friedly of Darmstadt, a 578th Signal Co. satellite communications team chief. “No one knew what was going on.”
What the Soldiers didn’t know was that they were about to experience what Dallas-Fort Worth Airport fire and rescue teams call a “water salute,” to honor troops coming home on R and R leave from Iraq. The water turrets on the fire engines shoot water arcs into the air at a rate of 1,500 gallons per minute. The aircraft drives under the arc.
“I didn’t expect such a welcome,” said Pfc. Heather England, a 578th Signal Co. satellite communications operator. “Soldiers aboard the plane got a bit choked up as they watched the water splash on the plane’s windows.”
Security guards held back the hundreds of clapping and screaming Texas residents who cheered the 200 Soldiers as they entered the air terminal.
“As we entered ‘the gauntlet’ at the airport, rows of people kept trying to touch us, get us to sign cards, and talk to us,” said England.
“I was offered everything from free beer to cigarettes, sodas and cell phone usage, as I walked down the airport,” said Friedly.
“An older lady asked me if I had any children,” Friedly said. “When I told her I had a girl, she took me by the arm and directed me to a group of volunteers sitting at the end of the corridor. They handed me a pink teddy bear, some candy and a bouquet of flowers for my wife. I was overwhelmed by the kindness of so many strangers.”
Every Soldier who arrived on the flight had a civilian escort to continuing flights, to help pull them through security lines, receive fast check-ins and even upgrade their assigned seating to first class.
The volunteers perform this welcome every day at the airport. Hundreds of civilians spend hours greeting Soldiers, thanking Soldiers and giving to Soldiers.
England said she noticed church group volunteers from at least six denominations at the airport that day, working together.
“After being stationed in Germany and Iraq for so long, seeing this display of affection at the U.S. airport has definitely reminded me why I love Americans, especially my fellow Texans,” England said.
Originally published in the Herald Post, Vol. 30, No. 34, June 9, 2005
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