A major hub for international travel and the world’s busiest airport, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is one of the main airports for military deployments and rest and recuperation (R&R) travel. Since 2001, it has been the R&R point for about 2.5 million soldiers, airmen and marines.
Don Stolzoff of The Home Depot knows how important airport greetings and hospitality are for our troops returning home and going overseas. With two children in the military, he started volunteering with the USO six years ago and turned his personal service into a company-wide program. Thanks to his efforts, Home Depot associates now volunteer at the Atlanta airport every Tuesday to help comfort and direct new recruits during their travels as well as greet and host military members coming home for R&R – a large task involving 7,000 – 9,000 soldiers daily.
“One of the best parts of helping usher our troops home is some of the heartfelt greetings I get to witness,” said Don. “From marriage proposals to fathers seeing their newborn baby son or daughter for the first time, there are some magical moments that happen at the top of the escalator where we greet our troops in the Atlanta airport.”
This December, Don and his fellow Home Depot USO volunteers are braving the holiday travel traffic to do what they love for 36 hours – welcoming home our troops for the holidays. From making their famous chili cheese dogs for hungry troops passing through to greeting military members as they arrive, Don is sure they will witness their fair share of holiday cheer and happy reunions among the hustle and bustle of the season.
