BNSF News

BNSF Employees Bring Holiday Cheer to Returning Troops

2007-12-20

iving comes in many forms during the holidays. Because of how good it made them feel the last time they gave, BNSF people are once again offering support to U.S. troops stationed in Iraq – and this time they are motivating others to do the same. The giving came both as verbal acknowledgement as well as packages. 

One group, comprised of 10 employees representing the Strategic Sourcing & Supply, Tax and Risk Management departments, headed to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport on Dec. 6, when they had the opportunity to meet and greet troops returning home for their two weeks of rest and recuperation. Anywhere from 80 to 160 troops come through the airport each day, and volunteers gather to welcome them home and thank them for their service.

Kenneth Bryant, senior analyst, and Chuck DeBolt, senior manager, both of Strategic Sourcing, helped organize the BNSF volunteers. "Our department did this once for departing troops, and it meant so much to us and them that we wanted to do it again and to involve others," says DeBolt.

He and Bryant spread the word in Fort Worth, and then the team, wearing BNSF apparel, joined other volunteers who loudly clapped and cheered for the arriving troops as they entered the terminal.

"Everyone had big smiles on their faces," says DeBolt. "You could feel your heart swell. It felt so good to give support and to witness so many touching moments when the soldiers reunited with their loved ones."

Meanwhile, care packages were well on their way to BNSF Maintenance of Way and Signal employees serving in Iraq or elsewhere. The care packages are collected two times a year: for the Fourth of July and Christmas. The tradition began at Christmas in 2004 by BNSF’s Engineering Support Group, and the idea is spreading to other work groups.

Says Engineering Support Clerk and organizer Louise Eckroat, there has been interest by other departments across the system to send packages, so she has offered her advice on how to start the program.

This Christmas, Eckroat and her Fort Worth colleagues sent 15 packages. Inside the boxes were a BNSF sweatshirt, a hand-held compass, snacks, magazines, socks, writing tablets, wipes, candy and much more. The cost of the items is covered by fundraisers; this year’s big event was the sale of the "BNSF Supporting America Cookbook."

The whole experience has been very rewarding, she says. "It’s thrilling when I get a call or e-mail from one of the guys to let me know they received their packages. They are so excited to get them and very appreciative."

Wrote Daniel Cuhel, maintenance welder and Navy petty officer-first class: "Having this [care package] is a blessing. No one in this place is getting anything from their work except me. Thank you for your support….I’m doing fine, just missing my wife and kids back home so much."

Eckroat feels like she’s on the receiving end as well. "I have really gotten to know some of them, their wives and kids well. It’s really meant a lot to us to do this."

Says DeBolt, "Whether you support the war or not, you want to do whatever you can to show the troops you support them and their efforts."

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