DALLAS, May 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest
Airlines® (NYSE: LUV) proudly sponsors Honor Flight Network and
donated more than $20,000 in air
travel for nearly 50 Lone Eagle Veterans and their guardians to
participate in a special Honor Flight and V.E. Day 70th Anniversary
commemoration event in Washington,
D.C. The event in early May included a massive flyover of
WWII aircraft and a ceremony at the WWII Memorial, during which
Southwest provided refreshments and snacks to Veterans in
attendance. The Veterans also spent the day visiting the Vietnam
Veterans Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Lincoln
Memorial, and the Air Force Memorial, as well as the Arlington
National Cemetery for the Changing of the Guard.
"Memorial Day is a day for us all
to take time to remember our fallen soldiers and pay tribute to
those who have sacrificed their lives while protecting our
freedom," said Linda Rutherford,
Vice President Communication and Outreach for Southwest Airlines.
"The 70th anniversary of V.E.
Day celebration was an opportunity for all of us at
Southwest Airlines to recognize the selfless service of our WWII
Veterans to our country. Through our national partnership with
Honor Flight Network, we feel fortunate to provide travel to so
many men and women who bravely served our country and connect them
with the memorials that honor their fellow soldiers who lost their
lives in battle."
Southwest has been a longtime supporter of Honor Flight Network,
donating more than $3 million in
travel to chapters across the United
States since 2009 to support its mission to provide Veterans
with honor and closure by organizing trips to Washington, D.C., to visit memorials built to
recognize their service to the nation. This special donation
helps Lone Eagles, Veterans who do
not have a local chapter to assist them in visiting the
memorials.
"The Honor Flight Network is humbly appreciative of the
partnership that has been forged with Southwest Airlines since
2009. For our nation's Veterans from the WWII, Korean, and Vietnam
Wars and terminally-ill Veterans alike, the opportunity given by
Southwest Airlines is life-changing," said Jim McLaughlin, Chairman of Honor Flight
Network.
Southwest also pays tribute this Memorial
Day to those who have lost their lives while serving in the
armed forces by joining Community Partner, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
(IAVA), in their #GoSilent social media campaign, which asks every
American to pledge to stop what they're doing at 12:01pm EDT, and join them for a national moment
of silence to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Southwest will participate by pledging a moment of silence on
social media and encouraging others to do the same. #GoSilent
will coincide with IAVA laying a wreath before the Tomb of the
Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, a ceremony on the
USS Intrepid in New York City, and
participating Memorial Day events
across the country.
Southwest is dedicated to those who have served and are serving
in the military and is committed to employing, supporting, and
honoring those who have sacrificed to ensure the nation's
freedom.
In addition to Southwest being named by Victory
Media, publisher of G.I.
Jobs and Military Spouse,
a Top 100 Military-Friendly Employer for the sixth consecutive
year, CivilianJobs.com recently named Southwest as a winner of the
2015 Most Valuable Employers for Military.
ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
In its 44th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV)
continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with
exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than 47,000 Employees
to more than 100 million Customers annually. Southwest
operates more than 3,600 flights a day, serving 94 destinations
across the United States and six
additional countries. Southwest service to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, begins on
June 7, 2015; and subject to
government approvals, service to Belize City, Belize, begins October
15, 2015. Southwest will begin serving Liberia, Costa
Rica, on November 1, 2015,
subject to foreign government approval.
Based on the U.S. Department of Transportation's most recent
data, Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms
of originating domestic passengers boarded. The Company operates
the largest fleet of Boeing aircraft in the world, the majority of
which are equipped with satellite-based WiFi providing gate-to-gate
connectivity while over the United States. That connectivity
enables Customers to use their personal devices to access streaming
music provided by Beats Music or to view video on-demand movies and
television shows, as well as nearly 20 channels of free, live TV
compliments of our valued partners. *Southwest is the only
major U.S. airline to offer bags fly free® to everyone (first
and second checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply,
some airlines may allow free checked bags on select routes or for
qualified circumstances), and there are no change fees, though fare
differences might apply. In 2014, the airline proudly unveiled a
bold new look: Heart. The new aircraft livery,
airport experience, and logo, showcase the dedication of Southwest
Employees to connect Customers with what's important in their
lives. In 2014, the airline proudly unveiled a bold new look:
Heart. The new aircraft livery, airport experience,
and logo, showcase the dedication of Southwest Employees to connect
Customers with what's important in their lives.
From its first flights on June 18,
1971, Southwest Airlines launched an era of unprecedented
affordability in air travel described by the U.S. Department of
Transportation as "The Southwest Effect," a lowering of fares and
increase in passenger traffic whenever the carrier enters new
markets. With 42 consecutive years of profitability,
Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known
for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the carrier's
performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the
communities they serve, and an overall commitment to efficiency and
the planet. The 2014 Southwest Airlines One Report™ can be found
at SouthwestOneReport.com.
Book Southwest Airlines' low fares online
at Southwest.com or by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA.
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SOURCE Southwest Airlines