Wow, what I day I had on Monday!! It all started with me meeting a group of former POWs at the Manchester NH VA and they invited me to join them as they welcomed some troops home from the war! Here I am at the former Pease AFB in Portsmouth, NH, meeting the Colonel (left)and his Executive Officer (right) -- yup, the top guns! -- as a plane full of troops returned from overseas! This is their first touchdown on US soil on their way home, (via Iceland). While the plane is being refueled and they swap crews, the troops stretch their legs, call home, and get a bite to eat. The Pease Greeters (http://www.peasegreeters.org/about.html ) make sure they get a New Hampshire welcome that they won't soon forget. It's one I won't forget either! Do I look happy or what!?! It was so much fun, I think I'm going to be a regular at these things!
There was so much excitement and so many people! Sure was different than visiting the veterans at the Veteran's Home, but just like the veterans there, these guys told me all about their dogs they had waiting for them at home. Very cool!
This lady soldier was very nice. There were quite a few women in the group!
This photo is especially for Bob Armstrong and Forever Home Canine Rescue:
"From the floor of Petco to the floor of the Heroes' Walk."
I'm just taking a little break during a special ceremony honoring these men and women.
Look closely and you can see the troops coming down the walk. They all looked rather stunned by all the hoopla! Music was playing and everyone was applauding and shaking their hands, including me!
This is the hall as we awaited their arrival. There were a few other dogs there as you can see on the left (look closely), but no other German shepherds and I did overhear someone say, when I walked by: "now that's a real dog!" I felt very proud in my bright red jacket. I now have a "Pease Greeter" button on my jacket to go with my patches!
Here I am with my new friends -- that's Bob the left who I met at the POW meeting and he invited us down and gave us all the info we needed to get there. The man on the right is Ed Johnson, the man who started the "Pease Greeters" group in 2005. This group meets both departing groups as well as those returning -- be sure to check out their website for lots more info. (http://www.peasegreeters.org/about.html)
This is the hallway the troops all walk down. It is lined with photos of all the groups that have been greeted there since 2005. One of the former POWs told us he had met something like 274 flights! It was a great time and I can't wait to go again! We did have our own little mishap that evening but that's a story for another day. Until then, keep our troops in your prayers -- Rocky
Look closely and you can see the troops coming down the walk. They all looked rather stunned by all the hoopla! Music was playing and everyone was applauding and shaking their hands, including me!This is the hall as we awaited their arrival. There were a few other dogs there as you can see on the left (look closely), but no other German shepherds and I did overhear someone say, when I walked by: "now that's a real dog!" I felt very proud in my bright red jacket. I now have a "Pease Greeter" button on my jacket to go with my patches!
Here I am with my new friends -- that's Bob the left who I met at the POW meeting and he invited us down and gave us all the info we needed to get there. The man on the right is Ed Johnson, the man who started the "Pease Greeters" group in 2005. This group meets both departing groups as well as those returning -- be sure to check out their website for lots more info. (http://www.peasegreeters.org/about.html)
This is the hallway the troops all walk down. It is lined with photos of all the groups that have been greeted there since 2005. One of the former POWs told us he had met something like 274 flights! It was a great time and I can't wait to go again! We did have our own little mishap that evening but that's a story for another day. Until then, keep our troops in your prayers -- Rocky
Guess, who had to get in on the act? Hmm, I guess that's what little sisters do...copy their big brothers!
