MANATEE — Three U.S. Air Force airmen got the thrill of their military lives Tuesday as President Barack Obama unexpectedly made his way to a rope line to greet them at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.
They had expected his departure to go much as his arrival had a couple hours earlier. As Air Force One touched down just before 11 a.m., Master Sgt. Darrell Harwell, Senior Airman Anthony Dodge and Airman First Class Edward Walker stood behind the rope holding back mostly media and a handful of invited guests.
The airmen, based at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, were here to provide logistics for the president’s arrival, including lining up the air stairs to Air Force Once. But due in Arcadia, Obama waved at the rope line from hundreds of yards away and walked straight to the waiting Marine One helicopter.
Marine One then took off with a convoy of three other Marine helicopters, quickly thundering away from the airport, leaving Air Force One waiting on the tarmac.
It was upon Obama’s return that the airmen could not believe the president came their way, getting up close and personal with them to offer handshakes and thanks.
The helicopter convoy from Arcadia touched down just after 1 p.m., and Obama began walking to Air Force One, ready to depart. But he caught a glimpse of the airmen, turned in their direction and took long strides across the tarmac.
The airmen stood at attention and saluted the president as he approached, and Obama saluted and extended his hand.
Sgt. Harwell, along with airmen Dodge and Walker, stood at attention as the president shook each man’s hand before asking where they were from.
“Thank you for your service,” Obama told each of them.
The president then departed the rope line, but paused with a quick glance back at the airmen.
“I appreciate you,” he said with a smile.
Obama jogged up the stairs into the plane, which quickly made a lumbering U-turn down the runway and took off within minutes, leaving behind three beaming servicemen.
Sgt. Harwell, an Air Force veteran of 21 years, recalled his mother telling him stories of meeting Presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton while serving as a police officer.
“This is sort of like coming full circle,” he said. “I feel pretty good about it. It is an honor to meet the president.”
Airman Walker voiced his surprise and pride.
“I was shocked,” he said. “I am going to call my mom. It is sure a pleasure to serve this great country.”
Airman Dodge called meeting the president a moment of “excitement and happiness.”
“He’s all for the troops,” Dodge said. “All for the military. You can see he supports us.”
A thousand or more people lined the east side of Golf Pointe Drive along SRQ, spending the morning and early afternoon taking pictures of Air Force One landing and sitting on the tarmac in all its glory.
“Hey, it’s on time!” someone shouted as the legendary 747 appeared for the first time from over the Gulf of Mexico.
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