Airport bans group's giving treats to troops passing through

Volunteers with Maine Troop Greeters, meet a military flight at Bangor International Airport in September.

BANGOR, Maine — For years, troops stopping for a layover at Bangor International Airport en route to or from Iraq and Afghanistan could count on being offered a chocolate brownie, whoopie pie or other homemade treat.

But the free food and beverages came to a halt about a month ago after airport officials served notice to the area’s volunteer Maine Troop Greeters that it was enforcing a ban against such giveaways.

“I think I speak for most everybody when I say I think it’s very sad we cannot do it,” greeter Gary Mock of Hampden said Tuesday as 531 soldiers passed through the airport during the afternoon. “The cookies, candy and everything we have here is all in support of the troops and to thank them.”

The volunteers have welcomed almost 500,000 troops since 2003 at BIA, a major entry and exit point for planes carrying military personnel overseas.

Read the rest at Army Times

Related Link:
Saying Thank You to Those Who Answered the Call of Duty