Troops Homecoming

Well here it was just 12 days before we are suppose to have the Welcome Home
Troops rally at the DFW airport and still no word. After a few phone calls I
was able to get a hold of the person that planned the last event. After
talking with him I understood why the event hasn't come off like before. So
here it what happened.

The troops are now coming into the new Terminal D. The parking at terminal d
is much different than at terminal b. The parking garage is detached from
the terminal with just a walkway to the terminal. No place to actually park
the bikes for viewing and the BBQ area couldn't exist. He said that the
troops will be moving back to terminal b soon, and he was hoping it would
happen before the labor day weekend. Well it didn't and so he hasn't done
anything with it at this time. He hopes to do it in the not so distant
future.

Well there are plenty of holidays coming up that can have these events
planned for. Terminal D may not be the place to show off our bikes for
support, but that doesn't mean we can't be there for our troops. There is
more room in the Terminal so we can go inside and really make some noise for
them.

The last event was on a Sunday morning before the holiday. I've talked to a
few other people that have said that they were going to be there no matter
what so lets all plan on being there Sunday September 4th around 8am. The
troops should be at the gate somewhere close to 9am.

Here is some info on the Website about the Terminal.

http://www.dfwairport.com/terminals/terminal-d.php


Here is the Welcome Troops Website.

http://www.welcometroops.com/

The reception area is very accessible, thanks to DFW Airport, and anyone
wanting to come welcome the troops can participate. You can park right
across from our gate, in the 1-hour parking with no worry about the time
limit when you're greeting troops! Just go to D terminal, gate 22 on the
ground level. Your parking is free as you are given parking passes. To find
out the time of the flight arrival, just check the recorded message at
972-574-0392...just be sure to check it a couple of times on the morning you
are coming because the times often change.

Be sure to call the phone number above the afternoon before just to be sure
no changes have been made to the troops arrival.

 

Welcome Home Troops Ride Report



Now I had 4 kids with me so I was not able to meet with the Denton ABATE
group that met up and came in for the ride. I wish I could have but we all
met up at the terminal.

Once we arrived we were a bit disappointed that the flight was delayed.
Instead of troops arriving around 9 am the flight wasn't due till 10:42 am.
Still a good 2.5 hour wait for us, so a group of our people went into the
hotel to get some coffee and a hot breakfast.

While others dined another group just hung around the hotel lobby and
chatted. The TV monitors in the airport and hotel were playing constant
pictures of what used to be known as New Orleans. Many conversations
centered on that tragedy. I hung around for as long as possible, but the
kids were getting to antsy so I had to take them outside to run around. Burn
off some of that energy that I wished I had more of.

While we were outside a few people came by to say goodbye. They had other
things to do and couldn't stay. Thankfully this was just a few people; most
everyone was committed to staying for the troops.

Finally around 10:45 they let us know the troops had landed and were at the
gate. We got in position to cheer and clap when they started coming out.
Questions were asked about who was going to be handing out the water
bottles. The host said they could use help so a small number went outside to
hand out water bottles. I thought this would be a good job for the kids.

Once the cheering started we knew the troops were coming. We stood there
waiting and saw those worn but smiling faces coming out of the terminal. The
kids were eager to hand out the bottled water. When one of the troops would
take it from them they would get very excited and go get another for the
next one. Brandon got his hand shaken a few times by appreciative troops and
it was all exciting to him. Austin was a bit timid at first, but got into it
after a few troops had taken the bottles he gave them.

One of the soldiers had come out and was asked if she would like a bottle of
water. Her response was "is it from Iraq?" The answer was no, and then she
said she wanted the water.

We continued until all the troops had come out. We saw a few reunited
families, but mostly those just happy to be back in the USA.

Once everyone was back outside, the group decided to head towards the
Thunderhorse Saloon to provide a motorcycle escort for the truck that was
collecting items for the hurricane victims. Being in a car I decided to go
and make sure the truck waited until the motorcycle escort arrived. They
arrived at the Thunderhorse before the truck was ready to leave, so I said
my goodbye and went home. It was going to be a day of good deads done by
bikers, but someone else can write that report.

Someone had mentioned just before the troops started coming out that they
were disappointed with the lower turnout by the bikers this time. I looked
around and saw the people there and said that I was happy that this many had
showed up. When I called this into the organization running this at the DFW
airport I committed to 30 people and we had over that amount here now.

Actually considering the lateness of the announcement, the labor day
weekend, change to a different terminal, miscommunication on the date, and
finally the hurricane. 30 + people is a great number to show up.

Just to remind everyone that Troops do come in to DFW airport EVERYDAY. You
don't have to be part of any group just to go there and be supportive. The
website is http://www.welcometroops.com/ and the phone number to call to see
when the next scheduled flight is going to be is 972-574-0392.

I asked my boys if they wanted to go back and do this again. Both said they
wanted to go back and cheer for our troops.

 

TOP POST...

I offer my sincerest apologies, Elmer.. I'd had all intentions of
participating in this event, with you and all the brothers and sister of
Denton County ABATE.. Good intentions aside, I must admit that I became
preoccupied with the crisis in our Gulf Coast areas.. Katrina certainly
distracted the attention for many of us.. Although there was no motorcycle
focus on any of my activities for this past week, I hope this excuse will be
acceptable to all those who were at DFW.. <sigh> Sometimes there just
doesn't seem to be enough of us to go around and we don't get all the bases
covered ..

Thanks you for filling in for me and I especially appreciate the noble
efforts of those good brothers and sisters of ABATE... I'll promise to try
and do better in the future.. Please keep me advised on what we need and how
I can help.. Regards..

Bill Walker
Irving