Ford Airport welcomes vets, service members
CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — The Gerald R. Ford International Airport made sure veterans and active military members got a warm welcome Wednesday.
Members of military-affiliated groups gathered at the concourse to welcome veterans and active military members and thank them for their service as part of Operation Handshake, which started at 8 a.m. The groups also sang patriotic songs and waved American flags.
The public was invited to join.
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“Each year it is an honor to greet veterans and active military and see the expressions on their faces,” Phil Pakiela, captain of the Patriot Guard Riders of West Michigan, said in a Tuesday release. “We invite the community to join us for Operation Handshake to thank the brave individuals who fight for our freedom.”
If your loved one is a veteran or active military member who will be flying into Ford Airport Wednesday, you can contact Patriot Guard Riders with their flight information and arrival time at papapakiela@gmail.com or 616.916.3064.
Operation Handshake at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport on Nov. 22, 2023. Operation Handshake at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport on Nov. 22, 2023. Operation Handshake at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport on Nov. 22, 2023.
“The Ford International Airport is proud to host this annual event that honors those who have served our nation,” Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority Chief Operating Officer Alex Peric said.
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