Dallas-Fort Worth Homecoming Way Station to Close

After processing hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops over more than seven years, the Army is shutting down its R&R way station at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport in two months because of the drawdown of troops in the Middle East and Afghanistan.

The decision also signals the end of the Welcome Home A Hero program, a volunteer-led group that has organized a flag-waving, back-slapping, goodies-laden greeting for every flight of troops since June 16, 2004, a total that now exceeds 2,700 days in a row, no matter the hour, holiday or weather.

“It has been something special,” said Donna Cranston, who has been the on-site coordinator for Welcome Home A Hero for most of that time. “When we started, I don’t think anyone ever imagined that we were going to be able to do what we have done.”

The last organized flight of troops on rest and recuperation into DFW Airport is scheduled for March 14. Until then, one flight will arrive and one flight will depart daily.

By April 1, the dozen Army personnel working at DFW will be reassigned, and the Army’s lone Personnel Assistance Point for troops going to and from the war zones will be at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport.

Hartsfield-Jackson has always received 60 percent of the soldiers, so activity is being consolidated there, said Army spokesman Hank Minitrez.