When I recently put my mother-in-law on her plane home to Iowa after a months stay, I saw U.S. servicemen in uniform, many of whom were probably traveling home for the holidays. That immediately conjured memories of my first trip home in a U.S. Army uniform for Christmas in 1969.There was something amazing about that experience. The public actually demonstrated a genuine kindness and respect for me that I had never experienced before or since. Conversations were easy, greetings were universal, doors opened, people smiled. I was 10-feet tall in that uniform. As I recall, we got a special break in the cost to fly, but we had to be in uniform. At the time, I was stationed at Fort Polk, La. I remained on post on Christmas Day, then took a bus on Dec. 26 to Houston, then flew from there to Des Moines, Iowa. I stayed at a first cousins house overnight, then caught up with my parents the next day for the annual Griffiths family Christmas in nearby Polk City. The whole trip was one of typical melancholy and homesickness, yet feeling the pride of the Army uniform while a half a world away, the Vietnam War was raging.That would also be the Christmas when the advance infantry training companys clerk went AWOL and never returned. Being proficient at typing, I was recruited, in January, to take over his responsibilities first temporarily and then permanently. I learned the role so quickly that I would stay in that job for the next 17 months, until my discharge from the Army in May 1971. During that time, I provided administrative specialist services to Company B-4-3 and steadily won promotions to specialist E-5, with acting sergeant stripes. I would be the company clerk and mail clerk for groups of 220 men every eight weeks, as they trained in specialized infantry skills for assignments in Vietnam, Germany or National Guard and Army Reserves units.It was daunting duty being in that role as bearer of long-awaited mail to the trainees, as the one who helped guys get emergency leave for a family illness or the birth of a child, to help process conscientious objector applications or to write up the paperwork for punishments for AWOL or Article 14 infractions or prepare nominations for military awards. There were preparing daily morning reports, keeping rosters current, answering the phone, writing letters and getting coffee for the company commander in the best tradition of Radar OReilly of M.A.S.H. fame.How many times I looked into the eyes of cash-strapped servicemen who were trying to figure out how get home on leave or to get off the post for an emergency. Most were able, through a process, to borrow on their future pay, but that was never enough.I am reminded of that by what the chaplaincy program at Sky Harbor International Airport routinely does in its travelers aid outreach. For years, the Rev. Al Young and his team of volunteers have sought to help people who pass through the airport, often burdened by family distress and dysfunction, domestic violence, physical handicaps and too little money to be even in a traveling mode. Over the years, I have written a number of features about that earnest chaplaincy program, which, itself, relies on donations.In 1999, the program teamed with Travelers Aid International, a network of agencies spread across the U.S. and Canada committed to crisis response for people in transit. It has given Sky Harbor Interfaith Chaplaincy better resources and skills to help those distressed and stranded. That effort got a new boost in August 2005, when Young started a conversation with administrators at Sky Harbor to come up with still better strategies and tactics. That led to a contract between the chaplaincy and Phoenix Aviation Department, which went into force on July 1.It focuses on seven services: 1) assistance to military personnel in collaboration with Sky Harbor Military Hospitality Room; 2) travel options for stranded people who have exhausted the services of their ticketed airlines; 3) provide stranded passengers with financial assistance for food or lodging; 4) act as ombudsmen for passengers to assist in resolving traveling issues; 5) provide referrals to local social service agencies for additional help; 6) arrange relocation for victims of domestic violence; and 7) provide meet and greet or escort for special needs passengers, such as youth, the elderly and disabled and others. Accompanying the agreement is a $35,000 commitment, which has allowed the program to add Elvia Jaurequi as a case manager.It’s a vital ministry. Imagine if Sky Harbor had had the kind of crisis at Denver Airport did last week with the massive snowstorm that stranded thousands. No doubt, Sky Harbor travelers were affected by that and needed help from the chaplaincy. For more information, see http://members.iinet.com.au/~holloway1/PHX.html

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