An Air Force Master Sgt. got a surprise welcome at Santa Maria Public Airport on Wednesday afternoon.
About 45 people, including more than a dozen uniformed airmen, shouted “Welcome home!” as Vanessa Boyd exited the secure area of the airport and walked through a corridor of supporters holding American flags.
Boyd, who is stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base, thanked the gathered supporters after greeting her husband. “I’m so happy,” she said.
Boyd was returning from a tour in Qatar, a small country on the Arabian Peninsula. She was presented with a banner signed by supporters and given a high five from the St. Bernard dog that serves as the mascot of Welcome Home Military Heroes.
Robert Tolan, co-founder of the group, was on hand to personally greet Boyd. “You can’t even really describe it,” Tolan said of the feeling he gets welcoming troops home from overseas.
The Navy veteran and his wife, Cheryl, started the nonprofit organization about four years ago after they found that there wasn’t any organized groups greeting servicemembers at the airport.
One of the troops they’ve welcomed home is their own son, a cavalry scout in the Army who served in Afghanistan. “We wanted to let them know they’re appreciated,” Tolan said.
For more information about Welcome Home Military Heroes, visit www.welcomehomemilitaryheroes.org/
2/5/15 Santa Maria Times Top of Form
2015-02-04T17:25:00Z 2015-02-04T22:50:16Z Welcome home: Air Force master sergeant returns from QatarKyle Harding kharding@leecentralcoastnews.com Santa Maria Times