WELCOME HOME - DULUTH AIRPORT

With less than 24 hours notice and not knowing the full details of the soldier coming home, 14 PGR members came to the airport to welcome him home. The flight was scheduled to arrive a half hour later than was posted and then delayed about another 15 minutes set to arrive at 9:03. Well, what better time to have a mini meet & greet while waiting. Now here comes the crazy but best part! While waiting we met a couple sitting, pretty much in the middle of us, who were waiting for their son to arrive home. You guessed it ! Another soldier. The family of the soldier we were there for had not arrived yet. The reaction of our members was overwhelming with excitement and we all were ready for the flight to come in. Shortly, the family we were there for arrived and Durbin Keeney, a friend of the family, introduced us to them. Still time to spare, we had time to mingle among the families and chat. The father told us that he was delivering mail along the route that we took as we led the funeral procession from the 148th to Sunrise Memorial for SSGT Arron Taylor and said it was the most awesome sight he ever seen in honoring a fallen soldier. He could not get over that people were pulling over and getting out of their vehicles to show respect as we passed by. I mentioned to him that everyone of those Patriot Guard members escorting that day were right here to at the airport to welcome his son home. Flight arrived and people started to deplane.The passengers getting off cannot see us until they come out of the doors into the upper lobby and I always love their reaction upon seeing our flag line.

The first couple coming around the corner, comment was " Holy cow, they're some big guys here holding flags"! The soldiers were not hard to spot. The sure sign is the reaction of the family. They are a real giveaway for that. Not to mention the hair cuts.

Well, some say that things happen in 3's?? Yep, a Navy doctor was coming home from Sicily on the same plane. Now, I ask you? How cool is that! We got to welcome home 3 American Heroes and we didn't even know it prior to the flight arrival. Even the families didn't realize it. After one family requested us to surround them for a little photo op, we left our 3 Heroes to their respective families and friends and departed.

I am so darn proud and honored to be a part of this group of the PGR as well as the PGR as a whole. Thank you to those members who shared this experience with me and thank you to the families of those now home, for letting us be a part of your life.

Respectfully submitted, Den Padora