Military Welcome Center Re-Opens at Lawton Airport [photos]

The Military Welcome Center located at the Lawton/Fort Sill Airport, re-opened it's doors after being closed in March due to Social Distancing Guidelines brought on my the Coronavirus COVID-19.

The Military Welcome Center provides:

• Greeting for incoming/outgoing military personnel and their families
• a lounge furnished with comfortable leather recliners and entertainment center
• computers and phones
• children's play area with toys, games & books
• a visitor center with maps, directions, and information about community resources
• luggage storage area
• sleeping area

Beginning in March of 2010, the SW OK Chapter of the Military Officer's Association of America (MOAA) Auxiliary embarked upon a journey to provide a welcome and support services to Service Members and their families traveling through the Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport while honoring the commitment and memory of our Vietnam Veterans.

By July of 2010, the Auxiliary entered into a partnership with the local branch of the Armed Services YMCA and the two organizations worked as a team to gain the approval of the Airport Authority.  The group received final approval nearly a year later in May of 2011.  That same week, the first group of trained volunteers began welcoming incoming flights with a warm greeting and a cold bottle of water.

Fundraising began in earnest in August of 2011 and on April 23, 2012, the Military Welcome Center Lounge and Kiosk were officially opened and dedicated to Vietnam Veterans.

The Military Welcome Center Committee is comprised of ASYMCA and MOAA Auxiliary representatives and is responsible for the oversight of the program and the establishment of policies and procedures that govern the Center operations.  With two part time paid staff members and over 100 trained volunteers, the Center normaly operates 7 days a week, 12 hours a day, but will re-open in stages.