Warm Welcome

One of the really fun things we did while my mom and Aunt Dorene were here was to go to BWI to greet troops and families returning from overseas. Operation Welcome Home MD has been in operation since 2007 and has greeted over 700 flights. It is strictly a volunteer organization, and the staff is so dedicated to its mission. The excitement was contagious-we wanted to stay as long as we could and wish we had gotten involved with them sooner.

We arrived and got straight to work, decorating the international terminal at BWI with signs and banners, made and donated by various groups (schools, scouts, churches...) and individuals.

Then we began stuffing goodie bags. Each returning soldier gets a bag with a bottle of water, crackers, muffins, candy, and a welcome home card (again, made by various groups) and another card explaining what Operation Welcome Home is.

Our group that day was relatively small, but enthusiastic. They never know who's going to show up and sometimes there are close to 100! The troops and families were thrilled at the surprise and it was a joy to get to thank them for their service.

Operation Welcome Home's purpose is to make sure every returning troop is greeted warmly and recognized as the hero he/she is. It's a great organization and anyone can get involved. In addtion to actually greeting the troops, they need volunteers to make welcome home cards and donations of packaged snacks and candy. If you would like to participate in a welcome home event (they do several each week) or would like to make a donation, I'd be glad to give you more information, or you can go to http://www.operationwelcomehomemd.org/.

photo credit: Joshua Gercken