Letter: Airport worker made impression

Monday, Feb. 24, 2003 | 9 a.m.

I recently had the opportunity, traveling by plane, to visit Las Vegas. I noticed as I left McCarran International Airport how busy it was and thought how I didn't look forward to the return trip due to the long screening lines.

When the time came and I found myself in that line, I was surprised with the quick pace that it moved. As the line moved the reason for the pace became clear. A gentleman with gray hair, a gray mustache, an outgoing personality and a shirt with a patch that read TSA stood at the junction of our line and the six X-ray machines.

This man steadily directed our one line into the six screening stations, all the while explaining in an upbeat, if not humorous, manner what needed to happen prior to our getting to the screeners. He smiled. He laughed. He called everyone to attention, without a microphone, and made everything clear about the process. And he did this over and over as the queue steadily refreshed itself with new travelers.

He and his fellow TSA employees moved about 300 people through the line in the 10-15 minutes I was there -- on a day when the nation was on high terror alert. He had businessmen mock him and passengers grumble, but he continued with the same spirit he started. He had to know that he would face thousands more before his day was through. He kept smiling.

Thank you, sir, and all of the airport personnel who are working to make the new air travel easier.

SHAY BERTHELSON Arlington, Tenn.