Army honors 83-year-old “Hug Lady” for her dedication to our troops For the last eleven years Elizabeth Laird, has traveled to the Robert Gray Army Airfield in Fort Hood, Texas to greet nearly every single soldier returning home from deployment. Laird, who started the trend as a Salvation Army volunteer was recently awarded the Yellow Rose of Texas by the 1st Cavalry Division of the United States Army. In her eleven years as the “hug lady,” Laird has hugged over 500,000 troops, a gesture she believes is as simple as they come. “Well, if I can bring a smile, I’ve done something worthwhile right?” Laird will often join soldiers when they head off for deployment, and prays that they come home safe. One solider returning from the Middle East told the Austin American Statesman in 2010, just how much Laird means to the troops. “It is amazing to see her again,” the soldier said. Despite being honored by the Army, Laird doesn’t think that she deserves anything special. “I don’t deserve this. The soldiers deserve this. They deserve the recognition. They’re the ones that are keeping us safe.”
Posted on: Tue, 28 Oct 2014 12:20:49 +0000
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