Paulette works for the Savannah U.S.O., and her unofficial headquarters is the Savannah Airport. She makes sure that she is there every time a plane carrying soldiers arrives, and when a plane carrying soldiers leaves. She has been known to set off from home in the middle of the night to greet returning soldiers and to wish deployed soldiers well - not returning home until near dawn when her missions are done.

Paulette does all this as a volunteer, offering her cell phone so soldiers can make that last call home before deploying. She and her husband Bill built three cottages on their property known as "Triple J" to house three soldiers they know from the 3rd Infantry Division. All of these men are currently deployed, but the Nelsons make sure they always have a home to come back to.

In Savannah, soldiers coming back from overseas take busses that pass Paulette's house back to the base. Her children stand on the highway waving "Welcome Home" signs.

Paulette was nominated by a friend and U.S. marine, who reflected on the toll that tragedy of war can take:

"I think that the toughest part for her, is not knowing if some of them will come back. Some have come back seriously wounded, and this leaves a deep scar in her heart and soul. There is no doubt in my mind, that if she could, she would find a way to get on that plane with them to tell everyone that it's going to be all right. As a former Marine, I have never met another civilian with more patriotism flowing through her body. I truly believe that if you cut her, she would bleed red, white and blue!"