Prologue: A Change in Plans
The Falcons' Italian Adventure began a little earlier than planned. During practice on Monday, the coaching staff got word that the military flight that was supposed to take us from Peterson AFB, Colo., to Aviano AB, Italy, had been assigned another mission and wouldn't be able to support us.
With the department's travel office working frantically to get everyone to Italy, the coaches ended practice early and sent everyone back up to their rooms with one goal - pack!! The first group of travelers was departing on Tuesday at 6:30 a.m.
Due to the limited number of seats, Dee (the trainer), Capt Regina Samuels (the chaplain) and I weren't leaving until Thursday - our original date of departure. Personally, that was good. Although I am a chronic last-minute packer, the 12-hour window was pushing it!
Now, since I was still at the Academy when the team's `adventure' began, I can't tell you a whole lot about the team's first few days. (Hopefully the girls will be able to fill in some of the blanks.)
But, I do know that the team left in three separate groups out of Denver and all met up in Baltimore. They had to wait for several hours until they could get a military charter flight to Ramstein AB, Germany, where they waited again until a plane could get them to Italy. And, thanks to a layover in Detroit, the first flight that left Denver was the last flight to arrive in Baltimore.
