Welcome Home – To Bangor

There really is no place like home, but for American troops traveling to and from Iraq, there is a place where folks go all out to make them feel at home and let them know that their sacrifices in uniform are appreciated.

It's still pretty cold in Maine – with the mercury dipping to 28 degrees in the darkest night. But that doesn't keep one band of hearty New Englanders from its appointed rounds – at the Bangor airport, where a plane full of U.S. troops on their way home from Iraq is arriving at 2 in the morning.

They're the Maine Greeters – citizens of all ages, some veterans – who make it their business to be on hand at the airport to cheer, hug and shake the hands of the returning military men and women, thanking them for their service.

They've had plenty of practice, as Bangor is a major stop-off point for this war. Nearly 300,000 U.S. troops have passed through Bangor since the war in Iraq started three years ago. It's the last refueling point in the U.S. as they head overseas to war. And the first place they see on the way home.

The first voices they hear are those of the Maine Greeters, waving flags and banners as they line up, reception-line style, to deliver their message.

"Welcome to Bangor, Devil Dog!" "Welcome to Bangor, Hoo-rah!"

The goal of the Maine Greeters, reports CBS News national correspondent Byron Pitts, is simple: Make sure the troops receive the kind of greeting that Vietnam vets did not.

That will be done, says greeter Bill Knight, regardless of what time of day the troops happen to turn up – flying out, or heading home.

"I can sleep when I don't have troops," said Knight, bright-eyed in the wee hours in the airport.

Kay Lebowitz, 90, takes a grandma's approach to her mission, admiring family photos of the GIs, and getting as many hugs as she gives.

"They rub their hands up and down my back," she says, pointing to her pull-on sweater, "because this is kind of soft. I'm sure for a long time, they've only had hard things."

The Maine welcome is more than appreciated.

"Every time I see the guys, the veterans... I get heart-filled, I get teary-eyed, I get choked up, because these guys are sitting here greeting us and thanking us, but we should be thanking them," said Air Force Sgt. Gloria Bermudez-Bly, arriving in Bangor after a tour of duty in Iraq. "We're here because of them, because of what they did for us, 50 some odd years ago."

"These guys didn't get this welcome like we do. We get hugged by complete strangers – 'Thank you, thank you for serving!" - These guys never got that, but they're still out here saying 'Hey, thanks! Thanks for serving!' And I'm thinking, 'No, thank you!'" said Bermudez-Bly. "It's awesome."

What's happening in Bangor now is reminiscent of another era: World War II, when trains were the way soldiers left – and came home – from battle.

In those days, families would come for miles to the train depot in North Platte, Nebraska, shouting out greetings to soldiers to let them know they were appreciated and loved.

Some things don't change.

The Maine Greeters say welcome duty is easy, but saying goodbye – as the soldiers leave – is hard.

"I thought it was emotional when they came in," says John Buckingham. "It's more so when they leave - it rips your heart out. You don't know how many aren't coming back."

But for those who do make it back - a band of strangers awaits. There are few guarantees in war. This is one.

"You come back to Bangor! We'll be here when you get back!"

It's a solemn promise.