If you’re not already aware, the Marine Cpl. Gregory J. Harris Military Courtesy Room at Hancock International Airport in Syracuse provides a place where troops in transit or individuals heading off to basic have a place to crash.

It includes large recliners, free Wi-Fi Internet access, TVs, comfort kits, beverages and snacks galore, the latter provided by the Herkimer County Hunger Coalition’s Army Cpl. Michael Mayne Cookie Corps (hchungercoalition.org).

The Federal Aviation Administration is charging over $2000 per month to lease the facility despite the fact that it is not a vendor and 12 other rooms like it across the nation (e.g. Albany and Buffalo) pay far less or nothing.

The Room’s Board and volunteers are understandably struggling to raise the money to keep it open. In an effort to help out, the Hunger Coalition is asking everyone to sign this letter and mail it. For the price of a stamp, you may be helping to improve the quality of life for our men and women in service.

RJ Lenarcic-Founder-HCHC

SAMPLE LETTER

David Cohen
Regional Compliance Program Manager
FAA Eastern Division
1 Aviation Plaza
Jamaica, NY 11434

Dear Mr. Cohen:

One of the finest features of Hancock Airport in Syracuse is the Marine Cpl. Gregory J. Harris Military Courtesy Room. It’s a boon to soldiers in transit as it provides numerous amenities including large, comfortable recliners, Wi-Fi Internet access, big-screen TVs, beverages and snacks galore. Many of the latter are provided by volunteers of the Army Cpl. Michael Mayne (KIA-2/23/09 in Iraq) Cookie Corps, a feature of the Herkimer County Hunger Coalition (hchungercoalition.org).

The fact that the FAA is charging over $2000 a month to lease the facility is a travesty! The Courtesy Room is not a vendor, and given its purpose and positive impact, the aforementioned charge should be waived. The Room’s staff and board are struggling to raise the funds necessary to keep it open; funds which could be used for a plethora of other, more beneficial, purposes.

Marine Corporal Harris, still MIA, was a true hero who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam while serving his country. I’m asking you to make a much smaller one by waiving the leasing fee. In doing so, you’d be honoring his memory and ensuring our troops a place of comfort during their travels. And, by helping to keep the facility open, you’d be providing his family with something for which to be proud.

Respectfully yours,