Milling around Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport awaiting the arrival of Vice President Dick Cheney this morning, a handful of TV and print journalists got a friendly warning from a young Secret Service agent.

The agent — about a year into his career — reminded reporters to stay in the designated press area, about 200 feet from where Air Force Two would touch down.

When asked what would happen if a stray reporter ran at the vice president to get an autograph, the agent was evasive, but emphatic.

“I can’t tell you what would happen. But it wouldn’t be a good thing,” he said.

Reporters had held out little hope that they might be able to shout a question or two at the veep, and vice presidential staff member Brian Harrison emphasized that Mr. Cheney would not be making any press statements. He helpfully offered, “But you can write down anything you see ... ?”

WRCB TV-3’s Mark Bruce admitted, “I’m here in case (Mr. Cheney) has a Gerry Ford moment” and falls down the stairs.

Mr. Cheney was in town to speak at the 145th anniversary of the Battle of Chickamauga. Mr. Cheney’s great-grandfather, Samuel Fletcher Cheney, fought in the battle.

At 10:45 a.m. Air Force Two, a blue and white plane emblazoned with “United States of America” on its side, taxied toward a small delegation of greeters, mostly local businesspeople. A cavalcade of at least 10 cars, including a Hamilton County ambulance, drove toward the plane.

Tennessee and Georgia state troopers standing alongside their motorcycles snapped pictures on their cell phone cameras before pulling away to lead the procession of cars.

The vice president exited the plane and descended the stairs without incident. After some handshakes and a quick wave to the press squinting in the distance, Mr. Cheney got into a black car and drove off at 10:56 a.m.