TSA Sets Bar High in Support of Veterans
October 2, 2007
TSA employees - on and off the job - have set a high standard in their support of veterans - as these recent stories from Houston, Huntsville, Ala., Tampa, Fla. and Milwaukee demonstrate.
Huntsville
A screening lane at Huntsville International Airport was dedicated to 117 World War II veterans when they traveled to Washington for tours that included the war memorials and Arlington National Cemetery. Deputy Federal Security Director (FSD) Sam Bucy received numerous compliments on "how genuinely caring our TSOs (transportation security officers) were, and how impressed they were in how we handled such a large group with their unique needs. We got everyone through with only a misplaced hearing aid, which was later found in the terminal by two of our TSOs." The one-day trip was funded through Honor Flight Tennessee Valley, whose president, Joe Fitzgerald, said the veterans were invigorated. "We left here with some very, very fragile veterans," he told The Huntsville Times. "We actually brought them home younger than they were when they left."
Tampa
TSA at Tampa International Airport was presented a citation and plaque by the Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital located there for its support of wounded veterans. The veterans and their families are met by TSOs for screening that Assistant FSD Donald Kerr and TSO Security Manager Robert MacDonald designed for minimum impact. "The backbone of this program is the liaison between the VA and TSA Tampa, which allows the TSOs time to prepare for these special category passengers," said Acting FSD Ron Malin, who received the citation.
Milwaukee
A half-day of fishing, boating and picnicking on Wind Lake, Wis., was in store for 38 veterans from Union Grove Veterans Home. Among the volunteers who accompanied them were Supervisory TSO Tony Adcock, Staff Secretary Diane Garay and TSO Philip Bosanko of General Mitchell International Airport, Milwaukee. "The folks got off the bus smiling and got back on the bus gleaming," said Bosanko, adding that TSA Milwaukee also joined last year's outing.
Houston
TSA volunteers from George Bush Intercontinental and William Hobby airports screened more than 300 participants arriving in Houston for the National Golden Age Veteran's Games. TSOs also provided travel information at a booth in a downtown hotel. The games serve as a qualifying event for the National Senior Games.
