[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 67 (Tuesday, May 14, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S3426]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                  RECOGNIZING THE MAINE TROOP GREETERS

  Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, on May 18, Americans will join 
together in observance of Armed Forces Day to thank the men and women 
of our military for their courageous and dedicated service to our 
Nation. This occasion has a special significance in my home State, as 
it marks the 10th anniversary of a remarkable group of patriots called 
the Maine Troop Greeters.
  The story of the Maine Troop Greeters is that of hundreds of 
patriotic citizens who, since May of 2003, have gathered at Bangor 
International Airport to greet every single flight carrying our 
military personnel across the Atlantic to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, or 
other overseas assignments or bringing them home. Whether these flights 
land at Bangor in the light of day or the dark of night, in fair 
weather or foul, the Troop Greeters are there with cookies and coffee, 
cheers and songs, and handshakes and hugs.
  It is the story of more than 1.3 million servicemembers and nearly 
350 military dogs who have landed in Bangor on some 6,700 flights. 
Without exception, our troops have been astonished, overwhelmed, 
encouraged, and most of all, welcomed and thanked by this spontaneous 
outpouring of gratitude and respect.
  Bangor's tradition of greeting troop flights began long before 2003. 
On a frigid March morning in 1991, a large group of grateful Mainers 
came to the airport to welcome home returning troops from Operation 
Desert Storm. One of those soldiers, MSG Kevin Tillman of Kentucky, 
borrowed a saxophone from a high school musician and performed a spine-
tingling rendition of our national anthem. It was a moment that 
electrified America.
  To underscore the powerful and lasting impact of the Maine Troop 
Greeters, Master Sergeant Tillman returned to Bangor in 2011, 20 years 
after that unforgettable moment, to perform in concert with our high 
school band.
  I am often asked by my Senate colleagues why this Troop Greeter 
phenomenon is so powerful in Bangor. It is not just that the city I am 
proud to call home is the location of the easternmost airport in the 
United States, a former Air Force base that can accommodate 
transatlantic flights. For many of our troops, Bangor is either the 
last American soil they touch upon deployment or the first they touch 
upon their return.
  That simple answer only scratches the surface. The phenomenon of the 
Maine Troop Greeters is not merely a matter of geography and facilities 
but the manifestation of a caring community and of the American spirit. 
Throughout our Nation's history, young Americans have left the comfort 
and security of home to defend our freedom and to extend the blessing 
of freedom to others. And behind patriots in uniform have stood 
patriots at home to honor their service.
  The Maine Troop Greeters are individuals acting out of personal 
conviction, but their efforts are magnified by the support of local 
businesses, civic organizations, and the Bangor International Airport. 
Their generosity strengthens the spirit of volunteerism that is a core 
American value.
  One of the principles of true service is that it is not something 
that is done only when convenient but a commitment sincerely made and 
faithfully kept. That is the principle that guides our men and women in 
uniform and that guides those who honor and support them.
  It has been said that it is easy to take for granted that which has 
never been taken away. Thanks to the veterans who served in the past, 
America has never lost its freedom. Thanks to those who serve today, we 
never will. Armed Forces Day reminds us of the high price some pay for 
what we all cherish, and the Maine Troop Greeters exemplify the 
gratitude all Americans share.

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