American Airlines and the Gary Sinise Foundation (GSF) brought over 1,700 family members of fallen military service men and women to Orlando, Florida, on Saturday for an all-expense paid holiday retreat at Disney World.
Dubbed “Snowball Express,” the five day event honored families of those who sacrificed their lives in service to the nation. American donated over 20 chartered aircraft and thousands of seats on commercial flights throughout its global network to fly these families from over 90 U.S. cities and international locations in and out of Disney.
“Snowball Express offers a memorable experience, featuring special send-off ceremonies and engaging activities during flights, and while at Disney World, aiming to uplift the spirits of these resilient families during the holiday season,” a spokesperson for American said in an emailed statement to AirlineGeeks.
Snowball Express has been supported by American since 2006, and over 17,000 children and surviving parents or guardians of fallen heroes have participated since then. Over 1,000 American employees, including pilots and flight attendants, volunteer to ensure the success of the event.
Next weekend, American will transport over 1,000 additional passengers from families of fallen first responders on six charter aircraft to Orlando in coordination with GSF. In total, over 2,700 families will experience the Snowball Express this year.
