"On some faces there is joy. But for many, it takes more than landfall to break a grim spell; it takes the sight of these American civilians waiting in the terminal to say thanks. 'You feel dull until you walk down the ramp and see these people,' one apparently battle-hardened soldier explains in a wobbly voice. Then 'you get tears in your eyes.'" — Nancy DeWolf Smith, Wall Street Journal, Nov. 6.

This quote is from a review of the documentary "The Way We Get By," about the now-famous troop greeters at Bangor International Airport. The film is garnering national acclaim for chronicling something we've all done, at one time or another: meet somebody at the airport.

Of course, those being met are not just somebody: They are soldiers, making their first American landfall on their lengthy journey home from Iraq or Afghanistan. They are, quite literally, the newest American veterans. The troop greeters are the first to thank them.

Which brings us to today, Veterans Day.

The individual stories of Bangor troop greeters are extraordinary. They are mostly elderly, with military backgrounds or connections. Some suffer from chronic illness; others shuffle around the terminal with walkers. Yet they are always there, day after day, to honor our new veterans.

Although selfless people (as the film shows) doing incredible work, what these benevolent Mainers are actually doing is not so difficult. The times of day (or night) isn't the easiest, and making the time could be challenging, but their actions are so simple, classy and elegant.

When a veteran needs the support most, when they should know their country is standing strong behind them, their service and their sacrifice, a troop greeter is waiting there to shake their hand. There's probably no finer sight than that.

And it's something we all can do, today, of all days.

It only takes a moment. The great majority of us cannot spend multiple nights and days in the terminal at BIA; that's what makes the troop greeters so special. Yet there's little to prevent us, on Veterans Day, from greeting any veteran we may know, or come across, and thank them.

Admittedly, it's a small gesture, in the grand scheme of things. What does one hand shake, or nod of the head, really mean to anybody?

As the troop greeters tell us, for our fighting men and women, it could mean everything.

editorialboard@sunjournal.com