BALTIMORE, Md - Seven members from the Fort McHenry Composite Squadron and one prospective cadet joined with members from the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Army, the Boy Scouts of America and the Enlisted Spouses Club in greeting over 100 World War II veterans at Baltimore Washington International Airport on June 5, 2010. The event, one of many sponsored by the Honor Flight Network each year, was the second such occasion attended by the Fort McHenry Squadron during the 2010 season.

For the 82 veterans on two flights from New York and the 28 veterans from Ohio the greeting was a complete surprise as volunteers lined up at the gate to cheer, applaud and shake hands with the heroes of World War II. The event was emotional for the veterans, the volunteer greeters and even bystanders in the terminal who joined in to show their appreciation to those who ensured our freedom today.

Among those greeted was Ben Antonio of Buffalo, New York. A member of the 375th Medics during the Battle of the Bulge, Ben reflected on his experiences while aiding soldiers who fell victim to German fire and the bitter winter weather as he put himself in the line of fire to save his comrades. 

Among the Civil Air Patrol greeters were Lt Col Jim Steinmeier, Capt Larry Moore (also a Technical Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force), 2Lt Jake Kellogg, SM Tony Moe, Cadet Ryan Payne, Cadet Jared Jackson, Cadet Malcom Scott and prospective cadet, Sarah Cohen. Each volunteer applauded the veterans as they exited their aircraft, thanked them for their service and then escorted them to awaiting buses. The CAP volunteers then stood in line formation and rendered a final salute as the buses departed for Washington D.C. for the day.

A reporter from Fort Meade's "Soundoff!" newspaper was on hand to record the event. An article can be viewed on-line at the following url: http://www.ftmeadesoundoff.com/news/7778/heros-welcome/.

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.