Legionnaires greet, comfort traveling servicemembers

Legionnaires greet, comfort traveling servicemembers

When active-duty military men and women traveled through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport this past holiday season, they were greeted by faces who understood their service and sacrifice – Legionnaires.

American Legion Department of Georgia Legionnaires have volunteered their time in Delta’s Military Lounge at the airport for the past eight years. They help sevicemembers with flight changes, provide comfortable accommodations and talk to them about their service.

"When we first started volunteering in Delta’s Military Lounge, there were a lot of men and women coming back from Iraq or Afghanistan, and they were just young, terrified kids," said Tommy Hatton, a Legion Rider and member of Post 64 in Loganville, Ga. "It was good to have us Legionnaires there who have been through some of the same things that these servicemembers could relate to. It has given us an opportunity as Legionnaires to help some of these men and women understand, particularly ones who have lost a friend in combat, on how to deal with that."

Delta’s Military Lounge, which was created 45 years ago and is only open during the holiday season, provides food, entertainment and sleeping accommodations for servicemembers’ layovers. The Department of Georgia got involved with the lounge simply by calling Delta and asking. Now, about 25 Legionnaires volunteer at Delta’s Military Lounge where Hatton said he has handed out nearly 3,000 Legion membership applications.

"The first thing we hit on is, ‘Are you a Legionnaire?’," he said. "We talk a lot about the Legion, what it does and how it can help them."