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DFW International Airport's Army Personnel Assistance Point Honors Local Community Support of Rest and Recuperation Program

Posted on: Thursday, 15 September 2005, 18:00 CDT

DFW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Texas, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- It is a daily, extremely emotional experience: More than 200 troops arrive home at DFW International Airport from Iraq and Afghanistan for well deserved Rest and Recuperation (R&R) and are greeted by dozens -- sometimes hundreds -- of flag-waving families, volunteers, and business groups from the North Texas community. The troops are offered water, snacks, cell phones, and rides to terminals. And their response of gratitude has been carried to the battlefields overseas and to the Halls of Congress.

Today, those volunteers received some applause and gratitude of all their own.

"We wanted to say thank you again to DFW International Airport and the DFW community for their outstanding support of the R&R Program and the PAP Team," said Lt. Colonel Ralph Marino, Personnel Assistance Point Team Commander. "The servicemen and women are always telling us how appreciative they are of what everyone does for them here, and how special they are made to feel."

More than 178,000 troops have landed and departed on 750 flights at DFW, since the program began almost two years ago. The Army's Personnel Assistance Point has enjoyed the assistance of more than 180 North Texas community organizations and local businesses. These groups have selflessly donated time, money and supplies as the troops travel through on their way to or from their leave.

"DFW International Airport has been honored to receive the troops coming home for some well desired R & R," said Jeff Fegan, CEO of DFW International Airport. "We have been motivated to help these fine men and women in every way we can. We have had the USO within Terminal B since July 2004 and have been coordinating with the other groups involved to ensure that volunteers can do what they do best. This mission is second to none."

Sometimes smiling and sometimes crying, troops come off their long flight home to the warm welcome that can only be given in Texas. Hundreds of soldiers and their families have corresponded back to DFW and the volunteers with messages of thanks.

"After being stationed in Germany and Iraq for so long, seeing this display of affection at a U.S. airport has definitely reminded me why I love Americans, especially my fellow Texans," said Pfc. Heather England, stationed at Darmstadt, Germany. Her observations have been printed in military newspapers and congressional newsletters.

In recognition for the outstanding service to the Army's Personnel Assistance Point, the following groups were honored today: Colleyville Chamber of Commerce, USO, Travelers Aid, North Texas Commission, DFW Chaplaincy, Transportation Security Agency, Veterans of Foreign Wars (Roanoke), and DFW International Airport,.

More than 1,700 volunteers have graciously donated over 25,000 hours of their time to staff the USO center located in Terminal B.

"The unparalleled show of support from our community, of which DFW Airport is the leading example, allows USO DFW to achieve its mission -- offering a warm, safe and uplifting environment with the most relevant services for the men and women who give up much of their personal freedom to defend ours," said Jim Crites, Executive Vice President of Operations at DFW. "USO DFW is proud to be a part of the entire team of organizations and individuals that make up the top-notch, widely known and much-revered DFW R&R program."

DFW and the communities and citizens that have made this program such a success continue with their work and even as this luncheon finished up, the volunteers were talking about what needed to be done to meet the next plane leaving for Kuwait in just a few hours from then.

DFW is one of only two R & R programs at airports in the U.S.; Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport is also part of the program.

"You can take pride in knowing that through your continued efforts, Soldiers are afforded an opportunity to take time away from the stresses of a combat environment to spend two weeks of quality time with their families and friends. Such efforts contribute greatly to mission readiness and the well-being of our Armed Forces," said Lieutenant General F. L. Hagenbeck of the U.S. Army in a letter to the Airport on August 22, 2005.

The Airport, in its efforts to support this important work, has donated: * $102,000 for the build out of the USO facility in Terminal B * $75,000 per year for office space for the R & R program * $92,000 per year for office space for the USO * $1,000,000 in waived landing fees in support of R & R flights

To volunteer your business or organization to greet flights at DFW, please contact the R & R program at 972-621-0400 or christene@ntc-dfw.org .

About DFW International Airport

Located halfway between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, DFW International Airport is the world's third busiest, offering nearly 2,000 flights per day and serving 57 million passengers a year. DFW International Airport provides non-stop service to 135 domestic and 39 international destinations worldwide. For the latest news, real-time flight information, parking availability or further details regarding the many services provided at DFW International Airport, log on to http://www.dfwairport.com/ .

DFW International Airport

CONTACT: Ken Capps, Vice President, Public Affairs of DFW InternationalAirport, +1-972-574-8080, or Kcapps@dfwairport.com

Web site: http://www.dfwairport.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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