The Cpl. Gregory J. Harris
Military Courtesy Room
Hancock Airport, Syracuse, New York
Emerald City Detachment, Marine Corps League
Military Courtesy Room Project
PO Box 393
Chittenango, New York 13037-0393
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Under the auspices of the Emerald City Detachment of the Marine Corps League (Chittenango), we are proud to announce the establishment of The Gregory J. Harris Military Courtesy Room at Syracuse’s Hancock Airport. This unique space will offer any active-duty military personnel, particularly those traveling through Hancock Airport on deployment, a comfortable location to relax, grab a bite to eat and wait for their flights.
Loren Davies, Commandant of the Emerald City Detachment and former Homeland Security/TSA Supervisor at Hancock Airport along with Leroy Bowen, Iraqi War Veteran and Quartermaster of the Pulaski VFW who is also employed by the TSA noticed that many servicemen, due to scheduling and leave passes, were forced to spend long hours waiting for their flights when heading home on leave, moving to a new duty station or returning to their place of deployment. Many servicemen were forced to spend the night at the airport and make sleeping quarters where ever possible. This was obviously unacceptable to these Veterans so they set out to do something about it.
Together these veterans coordinated with the Aviation Commissioner Anthony J. Mancuso and Syracuse Mayor Matt Driscoll to get the necessary approval for the space. Thanks to the amazing cooperation and enthusiasm of both offices, this plan was put into motion and finalized in short order.
The Courtesy Room is being named in honor of a local Marine, Cpl. Gregory J. Harris who was captured in June of 1966 during the Vietnam War and is still unaccounted for. Cpl. Harris was a 1963 Graduate of West Genesee High School and has family and friends that still live in Central New York and are actively perusing his case with the Department of Defense.
Donations both monetary and non-perishable goods, have been received from many local businesses and private individuals yet much more will be needed to maintain the Military Courtesy Room on a monthly basis. Monetary donations can be sent to the address given above and goods can be coordinated through Mr. Davies (315) 359-6149. Volunteers will also be needed to provide assistance to those servicemen utilizing the Military Courtesy Room. Those interested in volunteering or to help with ongoing donations to cover monthly costs can contact Mr. Davies for further information or e-mail gjharrismilitarycourtesyroom@gmail.com .
We welcome the public to join us for the ribbon cutting ceremony of the Gregory J. Harris Military Courtesy Room on July 29, 2008 at 10 AM at Hancock Airport. Those expected to be in attendance, Syracuse Mayor Matt Driscoll, Commissioner of Aviation Anthony J. Mancuso and a representative from the area military installations including Ft. Drum.
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UPDATE:
Associated Press reports on Military Courtesy Room more here
July 6, 2008 at 8:57 am
Mary Ann.
You did a great job on the new blog site and I hope a lot of bloggers out their pull it up and check it out.
Loren Davies
Commandant
Emerald City Det. #877
Marine Corps League
Chittenango, New York
July 11, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Mary Ann,
Your doing a great job amiga…absolutely OUTSTANDING! Thanks for correcting the comment moderation problem. I’ve also posted this on my website under an UPDATE so that folks can come right over here and pay the site a visit and leave messages and comments.
Semper Hugs….
July 11, 2008 at 10:52 pm
Hi Mary Ann.I am Brian Cregg and I thank you for helping my good friend Loren with all you are doing for the military courtesy room.Now that he is a big radio STAR he probably won’t associate with us any more.I am doing my little bit here in N.H.to get donations.I laud you for what you have done and are doing. I don’t think I will be at the dedication but would love to meet you next time I am in N.Y. Semper Fi. Brian
July 12, 2008 at 1:37 am
Loren and Mary, you Two are doing a great service for our nations soldiers. I get a lot of news from Brian about the courtesy room.My support for your project is strong, I have two kids in the Navy who tell me of the pains of travelling. I would hope to see this grow,as peace does not seem to be coming soon. Fare thee well, Elliot
July 13, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Great job to all involved. I think it is great that you have taken the time and effort to get this done for all our military to use. As a wife of a currently deployed Airmen I say “Thank you”. I know it will be greatly appreciated. Keep up the good work!
July 13, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Just wanted to let you know I’m passing the word a long as well as emailing all my buddies for donations and volunteer work. Thanks!
July 13, 2008 at 10:41 pm
I just sent the blog site to my daughter who is in Corpus Christi with the Navy HM15 helicopter squadron. She will pass the word on. My son is at Gulfport MI with the Seabees, He also will pass the word on. Hopefully this project will grow bigger and bigger Thanks again, Elliot And Michelle
July 14, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Hello Everyone! Thank you all for the wonderful comments and positive feedback about our project. Just keep in mind that we could never do what we do without the support and donations from all of the local folks here in the Central New York area. It warms our hearts to know that military personnel from all corners of this great nation will be utilizing this room and they will tell their friends and family about the generous folks tucked away up in the rolling hills of Upstate NY.
The impact this room will have on our military personnel is the least we can do as Americans to show them that we respect and support their decision to guard this great nation of ours with their lives. They deserve that and so much more …Again, our most profound thanks!
Sincerely, The Staff of the GJ Harris Military Courtesy Room Syracuse’s Hancock Airport Syracuse, NY
July 29, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Semper Fi!
Nothing says it any better than that….
August 4, 2008 at 9:29 pm
What a great thing to do for our service men and women. We appreciate all they do for us and recognize you for making their travels a more bearable. I hope this is the beginning of even greater efforts to help them. There is a need for a shuttle to Fort Drum to help military and their families get around. Hopefully, your efforts will snowball! We pray that the staff there and all our military will be greatly blessed – we see God working through you.