By Julia Boyle
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

After experiencing an emotional “Welcome Home” event with her family, Suzanne Levitt decided to recruit her neighbors from Charlestown to greet U.S. troops returning from overseas.

Operation Welcome Home (Maryland)—a group of volunteers from local churches and community groups—organizes the nonpartisan events.  They greet U.S. troops at the international arrivals area at BWI  urgood Marshall Airport.

“I wanted to invite people from Charlestown because we were so impressed by the experience of seeing the soldiers coming home and because so many people here have been in the service,” Levitt says. “People in our generation can certainly identify with the troops.”

‘Forever changed’
In just a few weeks, Levitt recruited 36 volunteers from Charlestown to attend an event in September. Charlestown provided free transportation to and from the airport, and the Dining Services department made prepackaged snack bags for the volunteers to give to troops.

As the troops entered the international arrivals area, they were greeted with cheers, waves, smiles, and signs from more than 200 citizens, including those from Charlestown. Levitt says you could see the emotion in the troops eyes and the appreciation on their faces.

“When you go to one of these ‘Welcome Home’ events, you cannot help but want to come back,” she says. “You are forever changed by the whole experience. We are definitely making a difference in the lives of the troops, and they see they have our unconditional support back home.”

“It’s not a political matter,” Levitt adds. “It’s just important to support the soldiers themselves and welcome them home.”