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Letters from our Troops We hope you enjoy and are inspired by these wonderful letters from the men and women who serve each and every one of us as well as their families. Please write to us and share your thoughts and stories.
March 5, 2010 To all you wonderful people, My husband left for Afganistan, yesterday, Wednesday the 3rd of March for a year long deployment. His first stop was in Bangor and he got to encounter you all welcoming him with a smile, handshake and thank yous. My first email from him told be about your greeting. As a wife left behind, I want to thank you for the love and support you extended to my husband and his fellow Marines. What a blessing to know that on a very difficult day for both my husband and myself, he was lead to smile by some very generous people who took the time to extend their support. Thank you, March 1, 2010 Just wanted to thank you and all the others in your hometown who do what you do for our Troops who fly in and out of Bangor, Maine. My son, Capt. Sam S., and his troops where there sometime this past Saturday, February 27 on their way to Iraq and he said there were people there to greet them, with signs and how good it made them feel. So thank you and all of those people who are there to welcome home and send our troops off. It is a great service and as a Mom I really do appreciate you kindness. Susan Sunday, February 21, 2010 11:52 AM My son, Sgt Lee S., left Fort Lee VA yesterday for his deployment to Afghanistan. My heart is breaking and I have been holding onto my phone wanting to hear his voice one more time before it becomes so difficult. Then this morning, my daughter-in-law send me your link. Seeing his smiling face in your photos brought happy tears to my eyes. I want to thank you so much for greeting the soldiers and letting them know that not only their families but other American love and support him. I hope you know that you not only support the soldiers with your thoughtfulness but the families. I am so thankful for these pictures of my son and his friends. Lee is 26 yrs old. He has been in the military for almost 9 yrs now. Lee is married, for 6 years now, with three children. Makayla 8, Joey, 5 and Kaden 1 1/2. He comes from a long line of military men, having served in WWII, Vietnam, and Desert Storm. Lee served 18 mos in Iraq and this is his first tour in Afghanistan. He is a loving man who is a good husband, good father and a good son. God Bless you and God Bless America! Sunday, February 14, 2010 9:50 PM Thank you so much for your dedication to supporting our military. We were very happy to see our sons picture posted on your site and more importantly to see his fellow Marines who will be going overseas with him. This is a great thing that you do for our Service men and woman, their families and our Country. God Bless you... Sunday, February 14, 2010 11:43 PM Just wanted to thank you for supporting our troops and taking time to post pictures of our soldiers. This has been a very stressful time for us and to see our grandson's picture has made our day very special and uplifting. He was very excited when he called us from Maine. This was his first plane ride and first time in Maine. Please remember our family in your prayers. Thank you again. Wednesday, February 10, 2010 1:50 PM My name is Vickie, and I am a proud parent of a National Guardsman who came through your airport via Hattiesburg, MS on Monday (2/8) on their way to Iraq. I only found out about the "troop greeters" organization on Monday morning at work, and it was a God-send. Out of all the pictures that were posted yesterday, I was lucky to find one of my son! J It means the world to me and is now displayed as the background on my computer screen. An ordinary "Thank You" is not enough to share what is in my heart... and even though I spent last week with him, it was wonderful to "SEE" him one more time. Thank You All for the wonderful gift you give to all the parents of our soldiers. God Bless, Tuesday, February 09, 2010 I just wanted to say thank you sooo much for the pictures you took of my solider as he arrived their in maine. As I talked to him, he was so blown away by your welcome and hospitality. Thank you soo much. Aunna B. Tuesday, February 09, 2010 11:09 AM Rick H. February 2, 2010 Mr. Kohl; On behalf of myself (who has been greeted in Maine for three different deployments to Iraq) and my Soldiers over the years....I want to extend a sincere and heartfelt thank you to you and all your volunteers in Bangor. It is so exceptionally heartwarming to have such a warm and sincere welcoming into the airport before we depart for follow-on missions. In most cases, the Army Soldiers I led went on to combat operations. Unfortunately a few never made it back home alive. It brings me relief that for my Soldiers that paid the ultimate sacrifice, their last impression of American citizenry were your greeters in Bangor. Words can not express my gratitude. Your organization has inspired me to follow your lead and become an active participant in similiar operations when I eventually hang up my combat boots! Thank you and all your volunteers again for the inspiration and warmth provided to the many young men and women that continue their journey onward to uncertain futures and into harms way on behalf of the nation. Very Respectfully; Sunday, January 24, 2010 12:43 PM As the mother of a Soldier who has passed through Maine twice on his return home from Iraq (most recently on 1/17), I just want to say "thank you" for what you are doing. Our son said he would call when he got to Maine and he did. He was so happy and I know he felt like he was home when his feet were on U.S. soil again. He and the others really appreciate and looked forward to your meeting them. The families met them when they landed in WI and most said their Soldier had called from Maine. Thank you again. Wednesday, January 20, 2010 7:03 PM Thank you for doing what you do. My brother deployed on 18 January to Afghanistan. It was refreshing to see you all greeting him at Bangor airport and to know that he feels appreciated. Thank you again. 1/18/2010 My son is in new batch of soldiers being sent to Afghanistan to fight against terrorism to keep us safe in the United States. Tonight I received the best call ever. My son was sitting the the airport in Bangor, Maine waiting to get on his next plane and he got to call home due to the program you sponsor to offer free cell phone use to the soldiers. I did not expect to hear from him for a long time and this made me so happy to get to hear from him so soon. It is hard on the US troops leaving and it is a great thing you are doing to assist them and their loved ones left at home to keep in touch. God bless you all and keep up the great work. Sincerely, 1/14/2010 9:09:35 AM I would like to thank the Troop Greeters for what you do! Our son flew through Bangor on Monday evening, Jan 11, en route to Iraq. We were talking to him on the phone when his photo was taken, and bright and early Tuesday morning we were able to download the photo, which is now the wallpaper on both of our computers! We were also able to share it with his wife and grandmothers. What you do means a lot to the troops and their families. With two sons serving in the Air Force and one in the Army Reserves, knowing that there are people like you out there seeing them off and welcoming them back when we can't do it! We look forward to seeing another photo of him when he returns in about six months! Donna J. B. Tuesday, January 12, 2010 10:33 PM Not a question, just a comment. I lived less than two miles from Dows Air Force Base. I remember hearing the B-52s taking off at night. I heard about the movie depicting the Troop Greeters. I have an aunt and cousin who are troop greeters. I would like to thank BIA and the staff for allowing the Troop Greeters to continue what they started. It warms my heart to see we are supporting our troops. I served in the Navy from 1972 to 1976. Thank you again BIA. Mitch B. Sunday, January 10, 2010 10:10 PM Dear friends, I wanted to thank you for the work you're doing at the Bangor Airport with the troops. My nephew (#44) went through there today, on his way to Germany, then Afghanistan. My little sister (his mother) sent me the link and I was able to find his photo there. I haven't seen him in person for over five years, so it was wonderful to see the photo. Thank you again for the work you're doing there. What a wonderful idea! Blessings from Texas... Saturday, January 09, 2010 10:39 PM Hi, My brother deployed to Iraq on January 7th. This is his first deployment. He stopped in Maine and was able to use one of your volunteer's phone to call me, my parents, and his wife. I also now have a picture of him there at the airport from your website. I wanted to express my most sincerest thank you for your work in supporting these troops. It meant so much to me to be able to talk to him (and now see him thanks to your photos) before he left the country. Thank you thank you thank you. Sayre S. Saturday, January 09, 2010 2:56 PM Thank you so much for being there. Our daughter's plane was way-laid there overnight - last night, on her way to Afghanistan for 6 months. Her husband has been in Iraq for 4 months already. We are keeping their 14 month old baby till their return. Hard work for grandparents, and hard on their son, but we're proud of what they're doing. And, we're proud of what you're doing as well. THANK YOU. Linda H. Saturday, January 09, 2010 6:11 AM Thanks so very much for the service you perform in welcoming and encouraging our troops on their layover stop in Maine on their way overseas. We families would love to see them off as they are leaving our shores, but since we cannot, it is a privilege to have patriots such as your volunteers standing in our stead. No matter what time the troops arrive, morning, noon or night, you are there to shake their hands, pat them on the back, lend them moral support, and wish them well. What a blessing it is to know that our brave men and women have you to greet them, and see them off again, as they head off to defend our freedoms. I especially appreciate you taking the time to snap photos and upload them to the internet. Your picture of my husband's smiling face certainly makes me smile, too, and lets me know that he is well. God bless you and every single one of your volunteers! Most sincerely yours, Friday, January 08, 2010 7:54 PM Wow, that's my son! His troop is January 8 2010 12:30am. My son is on page 7 and he means the world us. I wanted to thank you with all my heart for what you do. You give true gifts from the heart. You acts of kindness teaches these soldiers how to show pride and honor as well as receive it. I will always treasure this picture of my son. I will keep it by my side until he returns home. Thank you. Sincerely, Sent: Saturday, January 02, 2010 11:13 AM Sent: Saturday, January 02, 2010 12:25 AM Subject: Thank You! Letters from 2008 |
The Maine Troop Greeters Official Web Site
