Welcome Home a Hero - DFW Airport

[UserX]

I was thinking on going one day at lunch... has anyone ever gone?

http://www.ntc-dfw.org/temp/randr.pdf

Welcome Home a Hero
R&R Flights – DFW AIRPORT
Updated 03/21/2011

Things to Know

• Welcome Home a Hero is a volunteer program to encourage and support our deployed military and greet troops at DFW Airport as they return home for two weeks of rest and recuperation.

• Anywhere from 150 to 275 troops come through DFW Airport each day, one flight arrives daily and one departs each day. Volunteers gather each day to welcome these troops off their flight, thanking and encouraging them for their service to our great nation.

How to Participate

• All are welcome to come and participate in the Welcome Home a Hero program. To learn of flight arrivals, call 972-574-0392 after 8 p.m. for a recorded message informing you of the arrival time for the next morning. You
may also want to check the recording several times in the morning before coming to the airport.

Schedule

• March: Each day, flights will arrive around 12:30 p.m. at Terminal B, Gate 37.
• April: On even days, flights will arrive at 12:15 p.m. at Terminal B, Gate 37. On odd days, flights will arrive at 8:30 a.m. at Terminal D, Gate 22.

Parking

• You may park in the two-hour parking lot located across from the terminal. Parking passes will be issued as you enter, so there is no parking fee. However, if you use your TollTag at the booth, the vouchers WILL NOT
work, so please get a ticket by going through a public only toll booth at the airport entrance.


Thank you for supporting our men and women in uniform. If you have a group of 20 or more – business, club, civic organization or chamber and need further information, please e-mail heroes@dfwairport.com or call the North
Texas Commission at 972-621-0400 or Donna Cranston, the on-site coordinator at 972-948-7059.

Thank you for your support,
North Texas Commission
P.O. Box 610246
DFW Airport, Texas 75261
972-621-0400
heroes@dfwairport.com

https://www.ntc-dfw.org

Donna Cranston
Coordinator, Welcome Home a Hero
972-948-7059
jonesb4@aol.com
Checklist for Volunteers

Before Arriving at DFW Airport

• R&R Update Hotline: Call the R&R update line at 972-574-0392 for an estimated time of arrival.

• This schedule will provide flight information, check periodically for updates:
March: Each day, flights will arrive around 12:30 p.m. at Terminal B, Gate 37.
April: On even days, flights will arrive at 12:15 p.m. at Terminal B, Gate 37. On odd days, flights will arrive at 8:30 a.m. at Terminal D, Gate 22.

• Call the hotline after 8 p.m. the day before, as well as several times in the morning, to determine if there are any delays.

• Signs: Homemade signs are welcome. You will need to take them with you when you leave since there is no where to store them.

• Food: Welcome treats or goodie bags are permissible however, not encouraged (Phone cards and gum work the best). Simple is best…something small that they are able to place in their pockets. Please note there are
approximately 150-275 soldiers arriving daily. NO home baked items are allowed. Only prepackaged items will be allowed. Soldiers are not allowed to accept them. This is per the military.

• Water: Bottled water is a big hit as most of the soldiers are connecting to other flights and need the thirst quenchers. You do not need to bring ice or coolers. Bring your water and give it to Donna Cranston, the onsite
coordinator, and she will ice it down for the next day.

• Supporters: Encourage businesses and families to come and greet the soldiers and wear patriotic colors. Also, veterans are encouraged to participate.

Arrival at DFW Airport – Preparation

• Time allocated: Volunteers need to plan two hours plus driving time for this program. You can park across from the entrance in the two hour parking at the terminal. Parking vouchers will be available upon arrival.

• Flags: There are some flags available to you, but please return for later use.

• Food: If you bring food items or goodie bags, they are to be placed on the tables that are by the entrance doors. Please have assigned people to pass them out. This should all be done at the doors or if weather permits outside. Please make it something small that they can place in their pockets.

• Water: Water is already in coolers that are set outside near the buses or at the door as they leave. This allows the soldiers to take what they need. At least one volunteer will be needed to help pass out the water to the soldiers.

• Helium Balloons: If you would like to bring balloons to help decorate, only Mylar balloons are allowed – NO regular helium balloons, please.

Soldiers Arrival – DFW Airport

• Families of Troops are to line up in front, all the other volunteers on either side of the barriers behind family members. Veterans are up front to greet the troops.

• Keep aisles wide and clear: The Volunteer Group Leader should work with the on-site coordinator to keep the aisle clear. The objective is to welcome the soldiers but not encumber their progress to their connecting
flight.

• Cell phones: You are welcome to offer troops cell phones to call home as they arrive. The best place to do this is outside as they wait for their buses.

The Clean-up Process

• Signs: All the signs need to be taken home with you. There is no storage available.

• Flags: A box is available for their storage however resupplying may be needed.

• Food: Any food or gift items left over can be donated to Operation R&R or to the USO. Military are in the airport all day and this is welcomed by the USO. The on-site coordinator will work with you regarding this.

• Thanks for your help: If Coordinators need information, please email heroeswelcome@dfwairport.com.

[Woods Racing Transmission]

I have done this a few times when family and friends have come home for R&R. I even did it once with my kids just out of the blue. Let me tell you the troops love it and if you leave there with out shedding a tear or two you are not human much less an American.

[AdamLX]

I've gone before with a group of people. It's easy to do and there's usually a lot of people there. Very good thing to do if anyone has time. My father in law will schedule a day usually once a month and have everyone from his company go for a few hours, all voluntary, but everyone goes without question.

[Super Cubano]

My wife and kid just did this this weekend with the girl scout troop. 2nd time they have done this.

[mstng86]

BofA normally rounds up people, but I have not done it yet.

[AdamLX]

BofA normally rounds up people, but I have not done it yet.

If they would do that over here at corporate I would definitely go. It's rare that the sales department will ever get a hall pass on anything like that though.

[fbodyjohnny]

its very nice of people that go do that, i can tell ya first hand, i flew into Dallas when i went home for R&R in January, and all i can say is WOW! that many people that take time out of their days to cheer us on and take pictures, shake hands and yes the ladies give lots of hugs lol, its pretty awesome. when i get out of the army, i will take part in it here and there.

[mstng86]

If they would do that over here at corporate I would definitely go. It's rare that the sales department will ever get a hall pass on anything like that though.

Yea, I think it is specific to the group you fall under. The opeations people seem to get to do it more than anyone.

Edit: I can't even find out how to do it with my organization at the bank.

[samuel642000]

its very nice of people that go do that, i can tell ya first hand, i flew into Dallas when i went home for R&R in January, and all i can say is WOW! that many people that take time out of their days to cheer us on and take pictures, shake hands and yes the ladies give lots of hugs lol, its pretty awesome. when i get out of the army, i will take part in it here and there.

I agree, I remember the first time I came through and wasshocked, really not expecting it. It is nice that people will take time out of their day to just come say thank you.

[KBScobravert]

I (a civilian) have come through a few times on R&R and had to run the quantlet. lol I usually hang a hard right or left as soon as I get through the door to avoid.

It is a great thing for the troops and I would recommend anyone that can get out there do it at least once and say thanks and shake the hands of some of these guys.

[Butch]

Much better than the greetings we received in the late 60's. I landed at San Franscisco and was called everything but a good milk cow.

[MutherjuggZ]

I would love to do this sometime. Maybe we could all have a gtg of sorts to do this one day? I was gun shy about thanking people for their service for a little while after my last relationship. My ex in the USAF thought people thanking him for his service was stupid and he'd always talk shit about them after they'd walk off from shaking his hand. I was so mortified and embarassed by his actions. He still posts here too. Classy fella, I tell ya.

[VaderTT]

We should do a dfwm welcome! That would be pretty cool.

[MutherjuggZ]

We should do a dfwm welcome! That would be pretty cool.

That would ROCK!

[fbodyjohnny]

I would love to do this sometime. Maybe we could all have a gtg of sorts to do this one day? I was gun shy about thanking people for their service for a little while after my last relationship. My ex in the USAF thought people thanking him for his service was stupid and he'd always talk shit about them after they'd walk off from shaking his hand. I was so mortified and embarassed by his actions. He still posts here too. Classy fella, I tell ya.

i know people like that. buncha assholes, most of them are infantry to be quite honest. the way i see it, if somebody wants to shake my hand, say thank you, or stand and talk for a lil bit about somethin, hey, i'm all for that, cuz they took the time to approach me about it. so why go walkin off talkin negative about someone appreciating MY service? i always,, ALWAYS,, tell them all, thank you for your support. because there are so many people on this planet that dont fully understand or appreciate what we do here, or anywhere else. so for those that support it all, they deserve the thanks.