thedrifter
06-23-07, 09:11 AM
Airport eases ban on food giveaways to troops
The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Jun 22, 2007 17:33:10 EDT
BANGOR, Maine — Volunteer greeters will once again be allowed to offer snacks to military personnel traveling Bangor International Airport, airport officials said Friday.
“It is clear that we over-reacted by imposing a ban on food items,” airport Director Rebecca Hupp said in a statement.
“While we had concerns over certain food items, particularly those that require refrigeration or special handling, a complete ban was not required or called for. I would like to apologize to our troops, the troop greeters and the community and thank those who communicated their concerns to us on this issue,” Hupp said.
Free food and beverages for troops stopping for a layover while en route to or from Iraq and Afghanistan came to a halt about a month ago after airport officials served notice to the area’s volunteer Maine Troop Greeters that it was enforcing a ban against such giveaways.
The airport cited liability concerns and strict rules that must be followed by airport concessionaires.
Volunteers have welcomed almost 500,000 troops since 2003 at BIA, a major entry and exit point for planes carrying military personnel overseas.
Officials said Friday the airport and the greeters had established a list of approved snacks — including hard candy, commercially prepared cookies and small candy bars — that can be distributed by the volunteer organization.
The airport statement said Bangor International will supply greeters with snacks to handle all military traffic through Bangor over the next week and that the airport’s concessionaire has also pledged a monetary donation to support the effort.
“Our concessionaires have not complained to us and pledge to continue their support of the volunteers. The concern over meeting the Airport’s contractual obligations to them was strictly on the part of the airport. Our concessionaires fully support the efforts of the Maine Troop Greeters,” said Tony Caruso, the airport’s assistant director.
The airport statement cited a meeting between airport officials and Dwight Cressy, Adjutant for the Maine Troop Greeter organization and member of the Maine Department of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1761.
“The relationship between the airport and the troop greeters has always been wonderful and supportive. We have also had a continuously good relationship with the snack bar,” Cressy said.
Ellie
The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Jun 22, 2007 17:33:10 EDT
BANGOR, Maine — Volunteer greeters will once again be allowed to offer snacks to military personnel traveling Bangor International Airport, airport officials said Friday.
“It is clear that we over-reacted by imposing a ban on food items,” airport Director Rebecca Hupp said in a statement.
“While we had concerns over certain food items, particularly those that require refrigeration or special handling, a complete ban was not required or called for. I would like to apologize to our troops, the troop greeters and the community and thank those who communicated their concerns to us on this issue,” Hupp said.
Free food and beverages for troops stopping for a layover while en route to or from Iraq and Afghanistan came to a halt about a month ago after airport officials served notice to the area’s volunteer Maine Troop Greeters that it was enforcing a ban against such giveaways.
The airport cited liability concerns and strict rules that must be followed by airport concessionaires.
Volunteers have welcomed almost 500,000 troops since 2003 at BIA, a major entry and exit point for planes carrying military personnel overseas.
Officials said Friday the airport and the greeters had established a list of approved snacks — including hard candy, commercially prepared cookies and small candy bars — that can be distributed by the volunteer organization.
The airport statement said Bangor International will supply greeters with snacks to handle all military traffic through Bangor over the next week and that the airport’s concessionaire has also pledged a monetary donation to support the effort.
“Our concessionaires have not complained to us and pledge to continue their support of the volunteers. The concern over meeting the Airport’s contractual obligations to them was strictly on the part of the airport. Our concessionaires fully support the efforts of the Maine Troop Greeters,” said Tony Caruso, the airport’s assistant director.
The airport statement cited a meeting between airport officials and Dwight Cressy, Adjutant for the Maine Troop Greeter organization and member of the Maine Department of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1761.
“The relationship between the airport and the troop greeters has always been wonderful and supportive. We have also had a continuously good relationship with the snack bar,” Cressy said.
Ellie