North Texas Commission

North Texas Commission to receive Prestigious
George Washington Medal on Behalf of R&R Program

11.7.05

Irving, Nov. 7, 2005 – The North Texas Commission will receive the George Washington Medal of Honor presented by the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge on behalf of the R&R (Rest and Recuperation) Program at DFW International Airport. The Freedoms Foundation local volunteer chapter will host the award dinner on Nov. 10 at the Royal Oaks Country Club in Dallas. This prestigious national award recognizes Americans whose positive words and deeds promote an understanding and appreciation for our country’s rich heritage and unique freedoms.

In 1949, General Dwight D. Eisenhower presented 200 recipients with the first Freedoms Foundation National Awards. The ceremony took place in a barn on a colonial farm once occupied by George Washington’s troops, which is now the site of the national headquarters of Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge. Since then, over 56,000 awards have been presented to Americans from all walks of life. Large corporations and small businesses, farmers, students, teachers, and military personnel have all been recognized for their efforts to make America a better place to live, becoming part of a historically prestigious group of American citizens that advance the American ideal.

Community groups celebrate the arrival of troops on incoming flights from Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan as part of the U.S. Military's Rest and Recuperation Program. The welcome home celebration has become a daily North Texas tradition. The North Texas Commission manages the volunteer program, working closely with DFW International Airport to mobilize greeting groups from nearby cities, chambers of commerce, schools, churches, clubs and scouts. More than 2500 volunteers have participated in the program since its inception in 2004, and community groups are "booked” every day through January 2006, with a waiting list of organizations ready to participate.

"It’s very rewarding to work with the community volunteers who sign up for the greeting program to salute the soldiers returning for R&R at DFW International Airport," says Dan S. Petty, president and CEO of the North Texas Commission. "This is truly a regional effort of patriotic citizens wanting to show their support for our troops. We have received numerous letters from soldiers expressing their gratitude for the warm welcome they received at DFW. We're glad to do it."

The Airport has donated more than $500,000 in landing fees and other services since the R&R program began, and continues to activate its Customer Service, Operations and Interfaith Chaplaincy departments to assist special needs of soldiers, along with its DFW Airport Ambassador Corps. The USO (United Service Organizations) also opened a facility on Memorial Day last year at DFW International Airport to accommodate soldiers and their families. The DFW USO is located in Terminal B near Gate B-14.

“We are so delighted to have the opportunity to honor and welcome home all of our brave soldiers and are humbled by the outpouring of affection exhibited by our local community,” says Jim Crites, executive vice president of operations at DFW.

For more information about the R&R Program, contact Liz Samuel at (972) 621-0400, ext. 123. Visit the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge Web site at www.freedomsfoundation.com to view other national award winners.

Established in 1971, the North Texas Commission is a regional non-profit consortium of businesses, cities, counties, chambers of commerce, economic development entities and higher education institutions in the North Texas Region. The Commission is the one and only public-private regional organization committed to enhancing the overall economic vitality and quality of life of North Texas. NTC improves the economy, infrastructure and lifestyle of North Texas by leading and directing regionally cooperative initiatives to accomplish objectives in four primary areas: transportation, aviation, environment and long-range strategies.