Met my brother, his wife and their friends at the Eastern Iowa Airport Thursday night. They were returning from a week in Mexico and needed a ride back to Iowa City. They arrived safely and soundly, and it was good to have them back in country.
While we were waiting for them to appear from the passenger area to Baggage Claim, a youngish (looked to be early 20s) man in Army fatigues came down the escalator and toward where we were standing, where he was welcomed home by either a brother or friend. Heartfelt, long hug between the two of them, with a few accompanying tears, as can only come when the reuniting is sweet. They were quickly out the door and off to wherever that soldier called home. You can tell when people who are good friends/family see each other after having been apart for some time. There is no lingering in the airport, only quickly moving on to home and living life. Welcome home, soldier, and thanks to you wherever you were serving our country.
And good job, American Airlines, for putting returning servicemen in first class on their flights home. American took some recent heat for its baggage policy for military members.
