Posted on 12/24/2007 12:12:45 AM PST by af_vet_rr
Being home for the holidays has an even deeper meaning for troops who've been away for months.
A group of Texas National Guardsman almost missed that chance. But they were rescued at the last minute.
The community and a corporate good neighbor rallied to bring them home.
"Oh! That's them! Just landed," were the shouts heard at Austin Bergstrom International Airport Sunday afternoon.
This year, Santa's delivering his presents by plane, and gift-wrapped in camouflage....
-snip-
...Then word came their deployment to Afghanistan would be delayed.
"Here were all these soldiers so close, yet so far away because some couldn't afford to fly home for the holidays," Chief Master Sgt. Gonda Moncada said.
"We were fundraising to bring them home on buses. But we didn't come close," wife Dora Cortez said.
But Santa's elves at Southwest Airlines had a plan of their own, free flights for all the troops.
"Anytime we can bring people together, we're in the business of bringing people together. And this was an extra special occasion to be able to do so," Butch Cope of Southwest Airlines said.
"I don't have the words. Just a big thank you to everybody who contributed to bringing us home," Sgt. Vincente Cortez said....
-snip-
...In all, almost two-hundred Texas soldiers received free flights from Southwest Airlines.
The rest arrived in Dallas and San Antonio.
Next month the unit will reunite for a one-year tour in Afghanistan.
(Excerpt) Read more at news8austin.com ...
Anybody who has ever bought airplane tickets at the last minute, especially over the holidays, knows how expensive, and more importantly, how hard it can be to get them. Most of these guys wouldn't get to see their families for one last time before their deployment, and to have it during Christmas makes it a very cool thing that SWA did.
As my wife (native born) would say, ‘That’s what Teans do’.
And after I look at her with a questioning eye ... ‘Don’t worry honey, you’ll always be a Yankee’.
Great Christmas Story.
er, Texans
What a wonderful gift to some of the troops!! One more reason to fly Southwest most of the time —> good patriotic business.
Texans are some fine folks.
Guess I’ll make sure I support Southwest airlines in the future as they have supported our brothers and sons.
Great story. I have also enjoyed the story about the people opening Christmas presents to clothe the children not dressed for the weather who were caught in the snow storm. There’s plenty of fine people in this country.
Thank you, Southwest Airlines.
I’ve flown S.W. a few times but I think I’ll make them my #1 choice.
Southwest Airlines Flies Texas National Guard Members Home for Christmas for Free....
good on Southwest Airlines.....at least one airline that supports the troops....
just don’t have them fly into Oakland,CA airport...or the troops will be taxed by the airport!!!!
What a grand idea.This airline goes to the toop of my list.The troops will always remember this.Just fabulous.
back when we were a military power to be recokened with, it was “Bergstrom Air Force Base.”
Southwest git ‘er done bump.
A similar event for Oklahoma National Guard soldiers (including my son in law) that were training at Ft. Bliss, TX. The brigade is scheduled to deploy to Iraq on January 3. A state-wide telethon, hosted by local TV stations, was held to raise the money to pay for busses to bring them back home for Christmas. Olahomans can be unusually generous and there was more than enough money raised. Some traveled in bright orange busses, donated by Oklahoma State University.
Well, they got in yesterday and my daughter was reunited with her husband, even if for just a week or so.
That just move Southwest to the top of my list. Good for them and our soldiers.
Gotta luv SWA!
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