Hospitality for refueling crew

To the editor:

We are writing to express gratitude for the hospitality extended to our son and the members of the 3rd Brigade/142 AVN unit of the New York National Guard as they stopped for refueling their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport on June 8.

I am not sure about whom to thank, but a group of people were waiting, as the helicopters were refueling, to provide the crews with a much welcomed meal and brief rest. This unit began its journey June 7 from Latham, N.Y. It overnighted in Cincinnati and stopped at Cape Girardeau before overnighting again in Little Rock later that evening. Ten helicopters from Latham will join 10 from Long Island and 10 from Missouri at Fort Sill, Okla., for two months of training before deployment to Iraq.

True Southern hospitality was evident as strangers fed, supported and visited our families as they prepare to serve our country. Thank you.

MARK and SUE BECK, Amsterdam, N.Y.