Meet a Greeter
Every month we will be featuring a Greeter whom we have come to know and love for their special efforts or a unique quality they bring to the Pease Greeters Volunteer Organization.
This month's featured Greeter
is Chuck Cove.

Chuck Cove, recipeint of two Purple Hearts, puts his heart into the Pease Greeters.
Chuck Cove is a combat Marine who served with distinction in Vietnam from December 1966 to January 1968. He was with the 1st AmTracs, 3rd Marine Division.

Cpl Cove had the extremely difficult and dangerous job f disarming unexploded enemy ordinance, mines and booby traps. Handling these explosives devices is always a ticklish job but to perform while under direct small arms fire from the enemy or mortar fire, makes the assignment even more perilous.

Chuck suffered two painful wounds in Vietnam for which he received his two Purple Heart. The motto of the Purple Heart Association succinctly tells the entire tale, "All gave some, Some gave ALL".

Chuck served a tour in the Army before enlisting in the USMC. He says with considerable pride that he wanted to go into combat with the BEST so he joined the Marines.

Chuck has worked closely with the greeters. On their behalf he has contacted local merchants, private businesses and his brother Knights of Columbus for their financial and physical support. In this activity he has achieved outstanding success.

Chuck is joined in greeter activities by his good wife, Joan and his daughters and his two year old granddaughter. they make a handsome family and are all well liked by everyone.

Chuck doesn't like to have any special attention called to him and would rather give the spotlight to others, but we'd like to give him the recognition he deserves.
An open letter from Pease Greeter leader, Ed Johnson
In the Spring of 2005 the Seacoast Detachment, Marine Corps League met their first flight of Veterans returning from the Near East at the Pease Air Terminal in Portsmouth, NH. We now have flights both returning and heading overseas.
For the first few flights there were only a few Marines greeting them in a rather sterile and cavernous room. Since then the Greeters group has grown to well over 100 elders and youths all offering their thanks and greetings for these heros.
The Greeters have not missed a flight since inception, over 120 visits. They assemble in an hours notice. Some drive as much as 100 miles to be there. They are too old to fight but young enough to care. They show respect for the troops and for their service to our Country.
First, the returning troops are processed through Customs and then set foot on US soil many for the first time in over a year. The 100 or so men and women are now home from the Global War on Terrorism. For those heading overseas, this is their last stop in the US.
Then the troops arrive to a boisterous welcome. The Greeters are proud of them and give the troops hearty applause, sincere handshakes, and expressions of "welcome home or welcome to New Hampshire, thanks for a job well done, or we'll be here to greet you upon your safe return."
Everyone has a camera to record this happy event. Often the troops want pictures of the greeters. They hug and thank them for being there in the wee hours of the morning or late in the evening. Business cards are exchanged. Friends are made.
Soon they move on to enjoy hot coffee, doughnuts, pizza and other refreshments ON AMERICAN SOIL. Initially cell phones were freely offered by the Greeters for the troops to call home with news of their safe arrival. Now a bank of twenty permanently mounted phones may be used free of charge exclusively for the veterans courtesy of Whaleback Systems, a company located in the Pease Tradeport.
Before leaving, all gather in the great room for group picture taking. Pictures of the heroes passing through Pease are posted on the walls of the airport in the hall aptly named "Hero's Walk".
Before boarding, the troops stand, uncover, and the Chaplain offers a Prayer of Thanks for their safe arrival and prays for their speedy and safe return to their home and families. One hundred plus voices say "Amen" in unison. More than one has a tear in his eye. Then they are gone. Gone home to their families or to fight in the Global War on Terrorism. They will always remember their welcome by the PEASE Family of Greeters.

May God bless these brave soldiers and
May God bless the United States of America.

A Soldier's Prayer
God our Father,
Help me to remain true to my ideals
during my service to my country.
Help me be what is in America,
the land of the free.
May I realize that I represent
what our country stands for.
My uniform is a symbol of duty and valor
both in peace and in war.
I take up arms to defend what all Americans hold dear:
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Grant me the strength to live according to these ideals,
the courage of my convictions,
and the resolve to endure whatever dangers threaten.
With you at our side I fear no evil
and resist every enemy,
secure in the knowledge
that you hold me in the palm of your hand.
Amen.