Home for Christmas
“Operation Exodus,” an annual event hosted by the USO, helped more than 3,300 U.S. Army service members navigate the Charlotte Douglas International Airport Dec. 19. Permanent deacons of the Diocese of Charlotte who serve as airport chaplains assisted the young men and women as they headed home from boot camp for the holidays. (Photos by SueAnn Howell) CHARLOTTE — Charlotte Douglas International Airport was a sea of camouflage and Christmas decorations Dec. 19 as more than 3,300 U.S. Army servicemen and women made their way home for the holidays.
Known as “Operation Exodus,” the annual USO-sponsored event at the airport just before Christmas draws in nearly a hundred volunteers, assisted by airport chaplains – several of whom are permanent deacons for the Diocese of Charlotte.
The airport chaplains helped shuttle the thousands of young and tired service members through the airport on their way home to their families after participating in basic training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C. The event is part of how the USO of North Carolina strengthens military members and their families through its annual Holidays for Heroes Campaign.
“Operation Exodus is one of our biggest efforts in the Charlotte area each year,” said John Falkenbury, president and CEO of the USO of North Carolina. “To see the smiles on the faces of our nation’s newest service members as they head home for the holidays is a gift to all of our staff and volunteers who help with this event.”
The tremendous number of servicemen and women passing through the airport on the day of “Operation Exodus” is deftly managed every step of the way, with 80 buses of troops arriving in waves from 3 a.m. to 11 a.m.
USO volunteers greeted the service members as they arrived in buses with gift packs, coffee, snacks and more. Deacons were on hand to help the volunteers and lend a supportive ear to the troops as they waited for their flights, grabbed a bite to eat, or relaxed in rocking chairs located inside the terminal.
Welcoming the young men and women and offering words of encouragement, prayer or simply a listening ear is a privilege, the chaplains said. It’s all part of their ongoing mission to serve as the presence of God to travelers in the Charlotte airport – the 10th largest in the United States in terms of passengers, with nearly 46 million last year.
Deacon George Szalony has worked for 10 years an airport chaplain, serving now as co-director of the chaplaincy in which he leads a team of 26 volunteer chaplains of various faiths. This is his 10th year working with the USO to assist soldiers heading home for the holidays.
“They’re fabulous men and women. We really are proud of them,” Deacon Szalony explained. “We are here to support and help them, welcoming them with food. Most of the young men and women have been up early, if they slept at all. We help also with ticketing, moving them to the secured side (of the airport) as quickly as possible.”
“We do our best to make it a good experience. Some have to go back to basic training after New Year’s Day, others will go to other posts,” he said.
Private Michael Demitro of the Bronx, N.Y., is looking forward to returning home and attending Mass with his family on Christmas. He entered the military to fulfill a promise he made to his late great-grandmother.
“I have been wanting this (to serve in the military) since I was 8 years old,” he said. “My great-grandfather served in World War I. When she passed away in my arms, she said that I reminded her of him. Ever since I was 8, it was something I had to do. I never gave up. Even though she is not here today, I still honor her.”
Demitro prayed the rosary and attended Mass throughout basic training.
“Every Sunday I would go and pray to her (his great-grandmother) because basic training was tough.”
He said he is looking forward to attending Mass at home and visiting his great-grandmother’s grave.
“I am going to visit her in my uniform and tell her I did it for her.”
Private Daniel Gonzalez of Riverside, Calif., is following in his brother’s footsteps in military service. He was grateful for the special hospitality he and the other service members received as they were making their way home for the holidays.
“It’s nice to see the appreciation. It’s great to have a lot of support, especially coming back from training,” he said. “It’s tough. It’s mentally and physically tough.”
Gonzalez is looking forward to going to church with his wife at Christmas.
“This will be the first church service I will go to since I joined the military,” he noted. “I am really excited to sing, worship and express my faith openly as both a Christian and a soldier.”
Chaplain Alice White, who co-directs the airport chaplaincy with Deacon Szalony, has served at the airport for 14 years. She said the airport chaplaincy has grown into a vital and much-appreciated service at the airport since its founding in 1988, and this USO-sponsored event each Christmastime is a great way to celebrate and serve at the same time.
“We are glad they are here. They’re glad they’re going home, so we always have a party,” she said. “It’s another way for the USO and America to let these young people know how important they are to our freedom, that they are honored, and we are glad they are here.”
Deacon Kevin Williams, who served in the U.S. Navy, assists Deacon Szalony in the airport chaplaincy. He believes it is important to encourage the soldiers as they come through their airport on their way home.
“For me it is important as a veteran – seeing these kids who were in boot camp, who are stressed and probably scared – whatever we can do to try to help them out, to ease that stress, I am glad to do it.”
For some of the soldiers, it is the first or second time they’ve ever flown, he noted, so the chaplains are there to ease their fears.
“They’re not used to this. You pick up on their nervousness. We just want to be here to help alleviate some of that stress,” he said.
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter
Learn more
At www.cltairportchapel.org: The non-profit Airport Chaplaincy works year-round to assist travelers and employees at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Learn more about how you can support their mission, either through volunteering or making a financial contribution.
At www.uso-nc.org: Find out more about the USO of North Carolina
