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Welcome Home A Hero

DFW Big Ten Conference Alumni Reports To DFW Airport

It started off as a gray Saturday on 02 May 2009. Rain was forecast. No real reason to get out of bed, leave alone go anywhere.

That’s right. The DFW Big Ten Conference Alumni is greeting returning solders as they pass through DFW Airport on their way home for two weeks of well-deserved rest and recuperation (R&R). What a nice way for ALL of us to say to our current soldiers that they are heroes and thanks for being at the Afghanistan and Iraqi fronts for us!

Excluding military personnel, there was a throng of roughly 200 people to welcome home about as many returning solders for a two week well-deserved rest and recuperation (R&R). There was ample room in Terminal D, gate 22D at the DFW International Airport. The plane landed at about 7:55 AM on 05/02/2009, and the solders came through all the gates and baggage claim about 30 minutes later.

We all cheered, whistled, waived flags, applauded and welcomed them back home. Some soldiers were clearly receptive to the attention. Some appeared like they were worn out from all the travel. Military personnel from the Army, Marines, and Air Force were WELL represented.

This is an event that takes place almost every day at DFW Airport. Corporate Sponsors have goodie bags for the soldiers if they want. People from every walk of life bring personal thank you gifts for the soldiers (e.g. cookies).

Harald Mallwitz, B.S.B., 1984

President

North Texas Chapter

University of Minnesota Alumni Association

http://www.alumni.umn.edu/chapter-northtexas.html

http://www.carlsonschool.umn.edu/index.aspx