Staff Reports
Lockport Union-Sun & Journal
LOCKPORT —
Cathy March, the mother of Matthew Austin, wrote the following entry in the family diary after her son returned from Iraq in June, 2008 at the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport.
Matthew Austin, 40, is a Lockport native who was the emergency manager at Baghdad Airport in 2008. He now lives with his wife, Heidi, and children, Lukas, Sammy and Allyson in LeRoy. The Army/Air Force veteran now is a member of the Livingston County police force.
Austin presented his mother with a flag that flew over the Iraqi Airport on the fifth anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Cathy lives in Lockport and teaches at D’Youville College. This is the excerpt from her family diary:
Our reunion at the Buffalo International Airport was a welcome home to Matthew, who had been in Baghdad since Christmastime. Brian (his brother), Heidi, Lukas, Sammy and Allyson drove from the east and Grandma drove from the north. Heidi orchestrated passes so that the entire family could greet Matthew immediately following his descent from the American Airlines jet.
Three little faces pressed against the glass. Three little voices, at different times, would cry, “Is this Daddy’s plane?” Daddy’s plane was delayed for a full 45 minutes. Those little noses pressed further into the view of the tarmac. This wait was interminable.
Heidi, looking adorable in her patriotic red, white and blue and her high heels, skirt and blouse, sat quietly. Her breaks were trips down the hall with one or two of the children in tow. Brian, too, was uncharacteristically quiet. Grandma struck up a conversation with a gentleman who had become enamored with Sammy. Sammy was the same age as his little boy. During the course of the dialogue, Grandma mentioned that the purpose of this visit was to welcome home our son, brother, husband, and daddy who had been in Iraq.
Finally, the plane landed. Matthew disembarked and waved toward the window. Although we could see him clearly, he could not see us. Another wait was necessary to collect his backpack. Then, at long last, he began the ascent to the airport.
Suddenly three little children were clinging to their dad, hanging from his shoulder, his hip and in his arms. The chatter tried to make up for the months of separation and lasted for some time. Brian, Heidi, and Grandma stood and waited.
Suddenly Allyson’s little voice that couldn't quite pronounce “r’s” stated, “Daddy, when you left I was only 3 years old. But I had a birthday party and you couldn’t come. And Sammy had a birthday part and you couldn’t come to that either. But ... don’t worry, Daddy. Mommy planned a party for you.”
Tears flowed throughout the airport and Grandma suddenly noticed that this little family was the center of attention within the confines of American Airlines. Even the airport attendant wiped his eyes several times.
Finally it was Heidi’s turn to welcome her husband home. The two of them just hugged and hugged.
Lukas turned the airport tears into smiles when, arms akimbo, he stated, “ I have NEVER seen my daddy pick up my mommy and twirl her like THAT!”
