Out of Cyprus: a letter of thanks to Ramstein Airmen

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RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  Editor's note: the following letter was submitted to the 435th Air Base Wing Public Affairs Office by a family who travelled through Ramstein following their departure from Lebanon. 

Words cannot describe my gratitude and appreciation to you and to everyone at the air base in Ramstein, Germany. My son Danny (15), my daughter Amanda (11) and I were among the evacuees from Lebanon, then Cyprus, on July 26, 2006 through Ramstein. 

The Air Force men and women were extremely attentive, helpful and very caring and comforting. Starting in Cyprus, the service men and women were pleasant and helpful on the plane. Upon our arrival at the base I couldn't help but notice the high level of organization and details your staff had gone through to make our visit very smooth. 

Being a teacher myself, I cannot but notice the teaching skills that your commanders have. To mention a few: signs, charts, coloring papers for the little kids, movies, calling cards, etc. Let us not forget to mention the other units whose presence added to our comfort and care, the medical unit, the food unit (especially the coffee), the free sample table, the beds and blankets, the immigration team, etc., and to top it all, I was impressed with the presence of a translator. 

But the final touch, the icing on the cake, was when your staff helped put a smile on a child's face whose birthday was that day. They managed to throw a last minute party with cakes and hats where everyone was invited. How can you top that? Everything ran so smoothly, it made the long hours feel very short! 

When I left the air base I felt like I left friends behind. It was a sad feeling. I could not believe it, I should be happy I am going home with my kids, but yet I felt sad and surprised that within a short period of time these people entered my heart with their warmth, help and immense respect they showed us. 

The Air Force chaplain was very attentive to all, he and his staff kept on briefing us and carefully updating the chart (I loved it!) which helped me make arrangements for my final destination - Boston. I know now, that I have a long lasting friendship with the Air Force men and women at Ramstein. I would appreciate if you could relay this message to all of the service men and women who helped that day. 

With our deepest appreciation, Rita, Danny and Amanda Hajjar