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Family gets a special farewell thanks to flight crew

Submitted Adam Hicks along with his wife Charla and their daughters Gracie, 3, Emma, 2, and Ava, 6 months.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Submitted Adam Hicks leaving for military duty in Iraq.

ENLARGE PHOTO

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By Dale Huffman, Contributing columnist Updated 10:06 AM Monday, November 16, 2009

Senior Airman Adam J. Hicks, of Sidney, climbed aboard Delta Flight 1519 on the morning of Oct. 13, preparing to leave for military duty in Kuwait.

The airman and his wife and children will never forget the memorable sendoff.

“What happened is ingrained in our minds forever,” said his wife Charla Hicks.

Adam and his wife, Charla, both 23, met at Sidney High School, where they graduated in 2003. The high school sweethearts were married that same year.

Adam worked as a trainer in a fitness center, and the two began a family. First their daughter Gracie, now 3, was born. Then Emma, who is 2, joined the family, and just six months ago, Ava was born.

Adam’s older brother, Travis served in the U.S. Army in Iraq for about two years, until late in 2007 when he suffered a serious knee injury that necessitated a medical discharge.

“My husband talked to Travis about joining the military, and we discussed it, and at first I wasn’t crazy about it,” Charla said. “But when our third daughter was born, Adam and I decided that since money is as tight as it is, that serving in the Air Force seemed to be a good fit for us.”

Eventually, they moved to Seymour Johnson Air Base in North Carolina where Adam took his training and the family lived together in military housing until his orders came.

On the morning he was preparing for the flight to Kuwait, family members from Ohio joined Adam and his wife and daughters for the farewell at Raleigh International Airport in North Carolina.

On the main concourse, Adam and Charla, along with the three girls, crowded into a hug shot as Adam’s mother, Susan Hicks, took a photo.

It was a rather somber photograph, and it was evident that the girls were a bit uneasy about saying goodbye to their father.

Then there was a certain amount of joy as the youngsters began jumping up and down, and waving to their father after he kissed them all goodbye and boarded the jet.

Then something priceless happened.

The cockpit crew and some staff members of the Delta plane happened to spot the children jumping, and waving at the large airport window.

“One of the crew, I think a steward, came back from the plane into the waiting room and asked if we were waving goodbye to one of the airmen,” Charla said. “We told them we were saying goodbye to the girls’ father who was leaving for duty in Kuwait.

“He asked for Adam’s name. And then he told us to watch the cockpit, and he would see if they could make something happen.”

A pilot soon paged Adam Hicks on the plane communications system, asking him to report to the cockpit.

“Soon we looked up,” Charla said. “They opened one of the cockpit windows and let my husband lean out, so he could wave goodbye one final time to his girls.”

Charla added, “I had been doing fine until then, and I just burst into tears. It was an awesome, caring thing”.

Adam told his wife in a phone call later, “It was something I will never forget. When they called my name, I went, ‘Oh, no. Now what have I done.’ ”

He added, “It was overwhelming. They even bumped me up to travel in the first-class section. It all made me feel special.”

And inside the airport, Adam’s mom took a quick picture; and his oldest daughter, Gracie, was heard telling someone, “Maybe my daddy is going to drive the plane.”

Dale Huffman wants your suggestions and story ideas. He’d like to share a story about you, your family, or a friend. This column is for you. Send e-mail to dhuffman@DaytonDailyNews.com or write to Dale at 1611 S. Main St. Dayton, OH 45409. Fax: (937) 225-2489. Phone: (937) 225-2272.

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I was a flight attendant on flight 1519, and was able to witness this. There was not a dry eye in any of the flight attendants eyes. I am very proud to work for the company that I do, and the crew members who have the utmost respect for what these men and women are doing for us.

Michelle
8:04 AM, 11/23/2009

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I'm so proud of the caring and compasionate Delta crew. God Bless our soldiers!

Nilsa
12:26 PM, 11/22/2009

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Thank you Dale. This was a great story. Of course it brought tears to my eyes. What a special memory.

Terri
12:13 PM, 11/16/2009

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What an excellent story, very good reading to say the least!

Ted
12:05 PM, 11/16/2009

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God Bless this family and Delta, what a special moment! Thanks for sharing this article!