American Airlines Honors U.S. Service Members And Veterans With Initiatives And Events
Long-standing programs help support veterans, military members and their families
FORT WORTH, Texas, Nov. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- American Airlines will honor service members and veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces this Veterans Day, continuing the work it does every day by committing support to them and their families through a variety of initiatives that work to make a difference in their lives.
"As a veteran of the U.S. Army, I thank all of our veterans for their service to our country," said David Seymour, American's senior vice president – Technical Operations and executive sponsor of American's Veteran Military Employee Business Resource Group. "One way we're restoring American as the greatest airline is the world is by engaging our employees, and support of our veterans' initiatives is clearly important to them. We're honored to stand with the more than 100,000 men and women of American Airlines to honor our veterans."
More than 6,000 of American's employees currently serve or are veterans. The airline's Veteran Military Employee Business Resource Group (VMEBRG) is the first official company-sponsored group of its kind in the U.S. airline industry. The VMEBRG members are active in the communities where they live and work – providing support for Honor Flights, sending packages to deployed troops, making regular visits to VA Nursing homes, volunteering for American's initiatives that support the troops and assisting with planeside honors for fallen servicemen and women, among other activities.
On this Veteran's Day, American invites customers to join it in a salute to members of the U.S. Armed Forces past and present by sharing a picture of their favorite service member or sharing why Veterans Day is important to them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag "#SaluteToTroops." In addition, customers can receive 15 AAdvantage miles for each dollar donated through Miles in Support for All Who Serve, a program that partners with United Service Organization (USO) to support the morale, welfare, social and entertainment needs of troops and their families.
American employees' participation is the foundation for initiatives that support the troops including:
- Salute to the Troops: This Veterans Day weekend, American partnered again with MGM Resorts International and the USO to host 70 wounded warriors and their guests from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and other locations for the fifth annual "Salute to the Troops." The service men and women traveled aboard a chartered American aircraft to Las Vegas, where they were treated to entertainment, sightseeing and other activities.
- Seats for Soldiers: On Dec. 7, American and the Dallas Mavericks will celebrate their tenth annual Seats for Soldiers event. Wounded soldiers from Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio will be flown to Dallas/Fort Worth on a chartered aircraft provided by American's Fuel Smart program to enjoy dinner at Abacus, front-row seats at a Mavericks game at American Airlines Center and recognition for their service. The game seats are donated by Mavericks season ticketholders, and American's flight crews donate their time for the trip.
- Snowball Express: American is the official airline of Snowball Express, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide hope and new memories for the children of fallen military heroes, and annually hosts a trip for children and spouses of fallen military. The 2014 event, scheduled for Dec. 11-15, will bring more than 1,800 family members to North Texas for an all-expense-paid series of activities. American will provide nine charter flights as well as airfare for additional families. The American Airlines Kids in NeedSM program, Air Compassion for Veterans organization and The Fisher House Foundation also provide airfare for families. Customers interested in sponsoring a family's trip can learn more at http://snowballexpress.org/support/.
- Sky Ball: Supported by more than 1,000 American employee volunteers, Sky Ball XII was held Oct. 25, 2014, at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and raised nearly $2 million for military families. Presented since 2003 by American and the Airpower Foundation, the annual event assists North Texas military families and national organizations and is the largest fundraiser for Snowball Express.
- Air Compassion for Veterans: Through the employee-led Fuel Smart program, $3.5 million in travel has been donated Air Compassion for Veterans (ACV), a non-profit organization which helps active and retired U.S. military veterans and immediate family travel for medical, counseling and rehabilitation needs. Fuel Smart's efforts safely reduce fuel consumption by implementing viable suggestions from employees throughout the airline.
In addition to these initiatives, American offers travel amenities for active-duty service members including priority boarding, preferred seating and upgrades if available, waived baggage fees, complimentary Admirals Club admission for qualifying members, priority baggage delivery in the claim area, and reduced-rate shipping via AA Cargo.
"We have a long history of supporting our military and their families, both in their communities and when they travel," said Capt. Jim Palmersheim, American's senior manager – Veterans Affairs and a United States Army veteran. "All of us at American are privileged to serve these brave men and women, whether they're traveling to their next mission, on leave to spend well-earned time with friends and family or enjoying their freedom after serving their country."
For more information about the ways American Airlines supports military, veterans and their families, please visit aa.com/joinus.
About American Airlines Group
American Airlines Group (NASDAQ: AAL) is the holding company for American Airlines and US Airways. Together with wholly owned and third-party regional carriers operating as American Eagle and US Airways Express, the airlines operate an average of nearly 6,700 flights per day to 339 destinations in 54 countries from its hubs in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Washington, D.C. The American Airlines AAdvantage and US Airways Dividend Miles programs allow members to earn miles for travel, vacation packages, car rentals, hotel stays and everyday purchases. Members of both programs can redeem miles for tickets as well as upgrades to First Class and Business Class. In addition, AAdvantage members can redeem miles for vacation packages, car rentals, hotel stays and retail products. American is a founding member of the oneworld alliance, whose members and members-elect serve nearly 1,000 destinations with 14,250 daily flights to 150 countries. Connect with American on Twitter @AmericanAir and Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines and follow US Airways on Twitter @USAirways.
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SOURCE American Airlines
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