Casseroles and care for our wounded servicemembers Published Jan. 21, 2009 By Col. Gary Goldstone 375th Airlift Wing commander SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Friday, Jan. 16, may have started out like any other day for Tech. Sgt. Adam Page, a nutritional medicine specialist with the 375th Medical Group here, but by 5 p.m. he had coordinated home-cooked meals for the first of three waves of patients who would be staying with us throughout the weekend. In all, there were more than 60 patients, fresh from the battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan, who passed through our doors as they worked their way back to their home stations courtesy of the United States Air Force. We have always conducted aeromedical missions, and we routinely receive wounded warriors throughout the week. However, due to presidential inaugural activities that shut down air space around the national capitol region, we received an influx of patients that more than doubled the normal workload for Team Scott. When word spread that we'd be receiving these wounded warriors, a coworker of Sergeant Page and civilian nurse, Jenny Juenger, arranged for her friends to bring in casseroles and vegetables, cookies and drinks. Almost simultaneously there were offers from military members who work at our Global Patient Medical Requirements Center, from the USO and from people all over the base who offered to bring in meals the following evenings as well. Normally, Sergeant Page has to make a run to the dining facility to get food for the patients, and while I know our cooks serve up great meals, the fact that our friends would take the time to make something gave these patients a little bit of home while they waited to continue their journey. I did hear though that the patients enjoyed hearty breakfast and lunch meals from our Services team. And, not only that, but aircrew members, medical teams and volunteers who carried litters and duffle bags also benefitted from both the generosity of our friends and skill of our cooks. This is just one reason why I feel it's a privilege to be part of Team Scott! We have hundreds of people who stepped up to not only perform the airlift and medical portions of these missions, but also to show how much they care about those who serve our country. Our team--active duty, Guard, Reserve, civilians, family members--all came together ... and it showed. Also heartwarming is the fact that with just a few hours notice, mayors and civic leaders from our local communities came in at 7 a.m. Saturday to visit with some of these veterans and to say thanks for their service. Many of these leaders are veterans themselves and give both time and resources to support all servicemembers throughout the year. To them I say a special thank you for their kindness and continued support. Providing this level of outstanding patient airlift and support is one of our key mission objectives. These men and women rely on us to get them safely home. Their loved ones are depending on us to ensure they receive the best possible care, and I know and have seen our staff go above and beyond to do just that. The big pieces of the missions here are executed precisely and reliably, and for that I am also thankful. But it's those little touches--like the casseroles from home and the personal visits with the patients--that truly make Team Scott remarkable. Thank you for helping us to Enable Combat Power!