Photo By Sgt. Maj. Alejandro Licea | Col. William B. Norman, Third Army/U.S. Army Central chief of staff, handed out...... read more read more
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ATLANTA – Third Army/U.S. Army Central leaders based out of Fort McPherson, Ga., were the first to greet service members on their way home as part of U.S. Central Command's Rest and Recuperation Leave Program June 12 at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
It is common for senior military leaders to hail service members coming home from a war zone but for these Soldiers this day was special. Not only were they getting some time off to see family and friends, but the flight was also were being celebrated by the airport and the Department of the Army as part of the R&R program reaching the 500,000th passenger mark since its inception nearly four years ago.
Personnel on board the flight were honored with a special R&R ceremony at the airport and all service members going on leave were greeted by USO personnel and Third Army/USARCENT sergeants major. Service members also received a hero teddy bear and coffee mug provided by the USO of Georgia before continuing on to their final leave destination.
"It was quite a surprise to see all of this," said Spc. Brian Benge assigned to the 20th Engineer Battalion on leave from Camp Liberty, Iraq. "It's cool that we get all this and most importantly that we all get to go home."
Col. William B. Norman, Third Army/USARCENT chief of staff, said this event is a huge accomplishment for the employees and Soldiers assigned at the Atlanta airport, and the volunteers of the USO of Georgia.
"From the time Soldiers get off the airplane, go through customs and security, this airport takes care of them," said Norman. "Having the 500,000th passenger on the R&R program is a huge milestone."
Norman praised the Atlanta airport for their continued support to Soldiers who pass through its gates on a daily basis coming home from deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan, Qatar and Kuwait.
"Soldiers can now truly say that 'Georgia is on their mind,'" said Norman referring to the state's motto. "This airport does it [taking care of service members] better than any other airport."
Following his comments, Norman presented Third Army/USARCENT commander coins and certificates of appreciation from the Department of the Army to recognize the Atlanta Spirit organization, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the USO and the airport chaplaincy. Norman also recognized other individuals and local organizations for their support of America's Armed Forces.
These organizations work with the Atlanta Personal Assistance Point, an Army unit based at the Atlanta airport, to provide service members with many amenities and morale-boosting activities during their stay in Atlanta before reaching their final destination.
Approximately 550 service members fly home on R&R leave daily. Two aircrafts fly the troops from Kuwait City International Airport to two gateways in the United States, one in Atlanta, and the other at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Roundtrip airfare from duty station to final leave destination is at no cost to the Soldier. A ceremony was also held in Dallas commemorating the 500,000th passenger of the R&R program.
| Date Taken: | 06.12.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 06.12.2007 14:16 |
| Story ID: | 10798 |
| Location: | ATLANTA, GEORGIA, US |
| Web Views: | 633 |
| Downloads: | 472 |
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