BALTIMORE, Md – Eight members of the Fort McHenry Composite Squadron, along with four family members, joined with members of the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Army and the Fort Meade Enlisted Spouses Club in greeting 230 World War II veterans as they arrived at Baltimore Washington International Airport on Saturday, 01 May 2010. The event, one of many such events throughout the spring and summer months, was organized by the Honor Flight Network and was opened to the local community and military service members who wish to participate in greeting the veterans.

Along with the other volunteers, the Fort McHenry members were issued special gate access passes to gain entry through security screening points at the airport terminals to greet World War II veterans directly at the gate as they exited aircraft from four inbound flights. For the 55 veterans from New York, 40 veterans from Michigan, 100 veterans from Alabama and 35 veterans from Tennessee, the welcome was a complete surprise as they made their way down the ramp with the assistance of escorts. The event was a very emotional one for the greeters, the veterans, and even passengers waiting for connecting flights at BWI. One excited veteran shouted, “They sure don’t give us this special treatment back home, that’s for sure!” Another veteran, a gunner on board a B-17, fought tears as he said, “I can’t help but think of all my buddies who died and never got to witness this moment.” Another veteran, an assistant aboard a Landing Ship Tank (LST) during the D-Day invasion on Omaha Beach, thanked members of the Armed Forces and the Civil Air Patrol for their continued service.

A camera crew from ABC’s WMAR-TV was on hand to record the event, which was broadcast on-line and aired on the 11:00PM news the following evening. Among those interviewed was C/SSgt Alexandra Green, who shared her excitement in participating in the event which illustrated that even the youngest generation won’t forget the sacrifices of our World War II veterans. Also interviewed was Brigadier General John T. Winters Jr., the mobilization assistant to the Commander, 7th Air Force, Pacific Air Forces, Osan Air Base, South Korea.

The Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization created solely to honor America’s veterans for all their sacrifices. They transport veterans to Washington D.C. to visit and reflect at the memorial made in their honor. Top priority is given to senior veterans – World War II survivors, along with other veterans who may be terminally ill. To learn more about the Honor Flight Network and how you can assist, visit www.honorflight.org.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with 58,000 members nationwide. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 72 lives in fiscal year 2009. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter-drug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 23,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for 68 years.

More than 1,500 members of CAP serve in Maryland. Last fiscal year wing members flew 42 search and rescue missions and were credited with 31 finds. For more information, visit www.mdcap.org.

The Fort McHenry Composite Squadron meets weekly on Tuesday evenings at the Catonsville Armory, 130 Mellor Avenue in Catonsville, Md. Prospective members are always welcome. For more information or directions, visit the squadron website at www.ftmchenrycap.org.