The Way We Get By

The Way We Get By  is a powerful, moving documentary about the troop greeters in Bangor, Maine. Please, watch it on PBS if you can.  But have some tissues ready.

Here in Maine we know about this group, but probably most people aren't aware of what they have been doing since 2003. Bangor International Airport is the last stop in the US for most of the troops going overseas, and the first  landing on US soil for those coming home. This group of volunteers, most of them retired, many of them veterans, meet the planes coming in, at all times of the day and night, to thank the soldiers for their service. They greet each one, have donated cell phones for them to use, free of charge, to call loved ones, and so far, said goodbye or hello to over 900,000 troops. And 155 dogs.

J contacted them once when our nephew was coming home from Iraq, and was able to find out what flight he was on, and when it was due in. He drove up and got to say hello on the stopover. If we lived closer to Bangor,  we would love to be involved with this.

It aired on Veteran's Day but can be seen on pbs.org through the link above until December 10. It doesn't matter what your views on Iraq or Afghanistan are, as one of them says, it's about the servicemen and women.  Watch it- you won't regret it.