2 weeks ago
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Elaine Greene, the last surviving member of the Freeport Flag Ladies, had her first Zoom call Thursday to reunite with a soldier who has never forgotten a random act of kindness from nearly 20 years ago.Lt. Col. John Farmer, who lives in Portland, Oregon, wanted to get in touch with Greene because he was among the soldiers who passed through Maine's Bangor International Airport in 2007 as troops headed to Iraq.Greene and her fellow Freeport Flag Ladies, Carmen Footer and JoAnn Miller, were among the people there to greet the troops, whose planes would often pass through Bangor to refuel during the wartime years.Greene and the other greeters handed out trinkets to the soldiers."We wanted to give you something, and we knew you couldn't pack much with you, but we wanted you to have something to know that we cared, that America cared, that people loved you and honored you for what you were doing for us," Greene said.Farmer remembers the gesture and wanted to thank the Freeport Flag Ladies for lifting him up. He still carries the trinkets he received to this day. "I still have your lucky penny. Seventeen and a half years later," Farmer said.Greene said she was thrilled to hear that a soldier wanted to reconnect after all these years. Farmer was just 24 years old in 2007. He is now a 42-year-old husband and a father of twins, and still works in public affairs for the Oregon National Guard."Through all of the trials and tribulations the Army has put me through, this little penny and this little flag and our little Uncle Sam guy who has — poor guy is falling apart. I think it's gone through the wash a couple times. You know it stuck with me. I still have it. I still think about it and thank you," Farmer said."No, thank you for what you did for us. That's the reason we were there, to thank you," Greene said.Farmer said he feels like the penny he received definitely had some luck."I went through Iraq and Afghanistan relatively unscathed. I was very, very fortunate," Farmer said."It fills my heart with such joy to see you all these years later and to know you made it through fine," Greene said.The Zoom call lifted Greene's spirits at a time when she needed it, as she is still grieving the loss of her two friends. Footer died two years ago, while Miller died less than two months ago.When Farmer heard about Miller's passing, he set out to get in touch with Greene. Farmer eventually hit a wall, so he contacted Maine's Total Coverage to help him connect with Greene."It does my heart so much good. You know all the grieving and now this, it's great. It helps," Greene said.Since Farmer's card was ripped, Greene insisted on sending him a new one. The two exchanged addresses and phone numbers and vowed to keep in touch.
Elaine Greene, the last surviving member of the Freeport Flag Ladies, had her first Zoom call Thursday to reunite with a soldier who has never forgotten a random act of kindness from nearly 20 years ago.
Lt. Col. John Farmer, who lives in Portland, Oregon, wanted to get in touch with Greene because he was among the soldiers who passed through Maine's Bangor International Airport in 2007 as troops headed to Iraq.
Greene and her fellow Freeport Flag Ladies, Carmen Footer and JoAnn Miller, were among the people there to greet the troops, whose planes would often pass through Bangor to refuel during the wartime years.
Greene and the other greeters handed out trinkets to the soldiers.
"We wanted to give you something, and we knew you couldn't pack much with you, but we wanted you to have something to know that we cared, that America cared, that people loved you and honored you for what you were doing for us," Greene said.
Farmer remembers the gesture and wanted to thank the Freeport Flag Ladies for lifting him up. He still carries the trinkets he received to this day.
"I still have your lucky penny. Seventeen and a half years later," Farmer said.
Greene said she was thrilled to hear that a soldier wanted to reconnect after all these years. Farmer was just 24 years old in 2007. He is now a 42-year-old husband and a father of twins, and still works in public affairs for the Oregon National Guard.
"Through all of the trials and tribulations the Army has put me through, this little penny and this little flag and our little Uncle Sam guy who has — poor guy is falling apart. I think it's gone through the wash a couple times. You know it stuck with me. I still have it. I still think about it and thank you," Farmer said.
"No, thank you for what you did for us. That's the reason we were there, to thank you," Greene said.
Farmer said he feels like the penny he received definitely had some luck.
"I went through Iraq and Afghanistan relatively unscathed. I was very, very fortunate," Farmer said.
"It fills my heart with such joy to see you all these years later and to know you made it through fine," Greene said.
The Zoom call lifted Greene's spirits at a time when she needed it, as she is still grieving the loss of her two friends. Footer died two years ago, while Miller died less than two months ago.
When Farmer heard about Miller's passing, he set out to get in touch with Greene. Farmer eventually hit a wall, so he contacted Maine's Total Coverage to help him connect with Greene.
"It does my heart so much good. You know all the grieving and now this, it's great. It helps," Greene said.
Since Farmer's card was ripped, Greene insisted on sending him a new one. The two exchanged addresses and phone numbers and vowed to keep in touch.
English (US)