ATTENTION: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Maryland mandated social distancing requirement, OWHMD is suspending all events. Please stay safe and healthy.
Message from OWHMD Founder – December 2020
Note: As you have noticed, OWHMD has suspended our Welcome events to comply with Governor Hogan’s request of limiting individuals other than travelers and employees at BWI airport. We do not know when this ban will be lifted, so we stand by for more direction and keep you all informed.
December 2020 Update
What a year 2020 has been for all of us. With each passing month, We were optimistic that OWHMD would be able to get back into the airport and give our Servicemen a Hero’s welcome home.
Boy, was I wrong! Instead, our lives have been turned upside, with many people trying to balance work obligations with children being taught online. Others have faced isolation, away from their families. It has been tough on the parents, and teachers, who are walking a tightrope. It has also been very hard on those who work in the medical field, the stress of dealing with very sick patients, day in and day out.
With Governor Hogan’s restrictions in place, limiting those at the airport to passengers only, OWHMD has been busy, with other creative ways to fulfill our mission to support our Troops.
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Early in the year, we took up a collection drive for masks and cleaning supplies for the Air Mobility Command. They reached out and asked if we could help them with the huge demand of the new restrictions of masks, and the need for cleaning supplies. The word and it was filled with remarkable speed by the local community. Our gracious thank you!
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With the snacks we had available, we boxed them up and mailed them out to our Troops overseas, to deployed ships, as well as dropped off at the USO and the Air Mobility Command, located at BWI.
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We celebrated Earl Daff 94th birthday by organizing a birthday “drive by”. Earl is our oldest volunteer, who served in WWII, and the Korean War. Mission BBQ, Earleigh Heights Fire Department, Truckin R Troops, War Fighter Advance, and volunteers from the local community came out with horns, signs and cards for Earl on his big day. Severna Park Voice covered the story, which helped honor our War Hero.
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In collaboration with Chick Fil A, Annapolis Area, Crofton/Waugh Chapel, and Severna Park Chick-fil-As – over 150 volunteers for an organized a service outreach project, “Passport to Serve”…where they made us over 1,000 treat bags, and handmade cards to mail to our deployed Servicemembers, just in time for the Christmas Holidays.
As we look ahead to 2021, we will continue to follow Governor Hogan’s Executive orders, for the safety of all, until he lifts it. We hope and pray that you all stay healthy, so follow the three “W’s”, wear your masks, wash your hands, and watch your distance. Most of all, take a mental break, and take time out as you need it. We need our volunteers! We need you!
Wishing you all a Happy Hannukah, and a very Joyous Christmas with those who you love.
See you at the Airport! (Hopefully soon)
Kathy Thorp
An Operation Welcome Home Christmas
US Army Field band holiday video made at an OWHMD event a few years back.
About Operation Welcome Home Maryland!
Since March 2007, Operation Welcome Home (Maryland) greets Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guard service members returning from overseas. We average about four welcome home event per week, and YOU could be part of the excitement.
Individuals, corporations, youth groups, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, civic organizations, religious organizations, and government agencies have all participated in events since our founding in March 2007. Volunteers help decorate the lobby with patriotic signs and banners. They also package “goodie bags” for the troops, many of whom are hungry, thirsty, and tired from their travels and will be waiting on a connecting flight.
When the troops arrive through the doors of the International Arrival terminal, we shower them with praise, cheering them on, hugging them, offering them a “goodie bag,” and thanking them for their service.
We invite you to come on out to the International terminal at BWI and help us welcome them home! Take a look at the EVENT CALENDAR on the right side of this website to see the current month’s event dates or call our hotline at (410) 630-1555.
We are also meeting many unexpected flights so keep watching the calendar for changes; we suggest putting our hotline telephone number in your cell phone to get up to the minute news on new flights we will be meeting…
Thank you for your interest in supporting our troops and giving them the hero’s welcome home they truly deserve!!! We also encourage military personnel from all services to come in uniform to greet your fellow servicemembers!
ATTENTION: Companies, schools, church groups and other organizations: We invite you to come out and support our welcome home events, and/or contribute water and snacks for the troops; please email us at webmaster@owhmd.org Volunteers are always needed to give our troops the hero’s welcome that they deserve.
Email any questions you may have to: webmaster@owhmd.org
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