thedrifter
07-26-09, 06:49 AM
Lounge at Ky. airport serves service members
By Ryan Clark - Kentucky Enquirer via Gannett News Service
Posted : Saturday Jul 25, 2009 11:34:02 EDT
HEBRON, Ky. — Each day, up to 100 military personnel make their way through the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International airport.
Sometimes, those men and women need more than a connecting flight. Sometimes they need counseling. Sometimes they need a place to rest, to decompress.
Seven months ago, the Rev. W. Lee Eames, a chaplain at the airport, and Pam Porter, then the communications coordinator, sought to give those military veterans a permanent place to rest, sleep or receive the counseling they need.
“We persuaded Delta to give us a permanent space,” Eames said. “During the holidays, when a lot of servicemen and women were coming home, Delta would provide a room on Concourse B where they could go and have a snack, or talk to someone if they needed to. We thought it would be a good idea to have that room there all the time.”
Eames — a certified therapist and ordained minister — now provides guidance in that room, called the Military Lounge, on Concourse B. The room is marked with a simple banner featuring a bald eagle, and it provides Internet, television, lounge chairs and sleeping spaces. Food is donated by churches throughout Northern Kentucky and drinks are provided by Delta.
“We’ve got a program here the whole community can get behind,” Eames said. “Some of these veterans come through here and they have post traumatic stress disorder, they need counseling. They can get out of the structure and the chaos of the airport. And if they get bumped from their flights, or they can’t get to where they need to, they have a place to relax.”
Children all across Northern Kentucky have helped stock the lounge with letters, as well as magazines and books, which the veterans can read at their leisure.
“We’ve even had other airports call us to see how they can do this,” Eames said.
There also are games and coloring books for the children who come along to see their family members.
Hebron resident Karen Phillips, who has donated food and reading material to the lounge, said she was looking for a way to help those people who have family serving in the military.
“There are many people in our church who have relatives serving in the military,” Phillips said. “I wanted to be of some service to them.”
To make a tax-deductible donation to the Military Lounge, contact Eames at 859-835-9341.
Ellie
By Ryan Clark - Kentucky Enquirer via Gannett News Service
Posted : Saturday Jul 25, 2009 11:34:02 EDT
HEBRON, Ky. — Each day, up to 100 military personnel make their way through the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International airport.
Sometimes, those men and women need more than a connecting flight. Sometimes they need counseling. Sometimes they need a place to rest, to decompress.
Seven months ago, the Rev. W. Lee Eames, a chaplain at the airport, and Pam Porter, then the communications coordinator, sought to give those military veterans a permanent place to rest, sleep or receive the counseling they need.
“We persuaded Delta to give us a permanent space,” Eames said. “During the holidays, when a lot of servicemen and women were coming home, Delta would provide a room on Concourse B where they could go and have a snack, or talk to someone if they needed to. We thought it would be a good idea to have that room there all the time.”
Eames — a certified therapist and ordained minister — now provides guidance in that room, called the Military Lounge, on Concourse B. The room is marked with a simple banner featuring a bald eagle, and it provides Internet, television, lounge chairs and sleeping spaces. Food is donated by churches throughout Northern Kentucky and drinks are provided by Delta.
“We’ve got a program here the whole community can get behind,” Eames said. “Some of these veterans come through here and they have post traumatic stress disorder, they need counseling. They can get out of the structure and the chaos of the airport. And if they get bumped from their flights, or they can’t get to where they need to, they have a place to relax.”
Children all across Northern Kentucky have helped stock the lounge with letters, as well as magazines and books, which the veterans can read at their leisure.
“We’ve even had other airports call us to see how they can do this,” Eames said.
There also are games and coloring books for the children who come along to see their family members.
Hebron resident Karen Phillips, who has donated food and reading material to the lounge, said she was looking for a way to help those people who have family serving in the military.
“There are many people in our church who have relatives serving in the military,” Phillips said. “I wanted to be of some service to them.”
To make a tax-deductible donation to the Military Lounge, contact Eames at 859-835-9341.
Ellie