FORT WORTH, Texas, Nov. 11, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- American Airlines
this Veterans Day will salute
veterans and active duty service members of the U.S. Armed Forces,
as part of its year-long initiatives designed to make a difference
in the lives of people across all branches of the military.
American employees have longtime ties to the military community,
with more than 6,000 employees serving in the military past or
present.
"As a U.S. Army veteran, I'm proud that American Airlines and
thousands of our employees work all year long to support veterans'
initiatives across all branches of the military. Our country is
indebted to the men and women who fight and have fought for our
freedom," said Capt. Kimball Stone,
American's vice president – Flight. "I am especially thankful
to our employees who are veterans, reservists and active duty
service men and women who continue to serve our country every
day."
Customers can join American in support of veterans through the
AAdvantage® Miles for All Who Serve program. The program
provides assistance to organizations that work to support our men
and women in uniform, veterans and their families. Support is
provided to organizations such as Air Power Foundation, The Gary
Sinise Foundation, Hero Miles and Snowball Express. Customers can
go to aa.com/giving and donate their unused miles in support of all
who serve.
Veterans Day 2015 comes on the
heels of a record breaking Sky Ball XIII, the annual black-tie
event that American and the Airpower Foundation have presented
since 2003 to raise money for North
Texas military families and national organizations,
including Snowball Express. This year's Sky Ball XIII, held on
Oct. 24, raised a record $2.3 million for military families with help from
more than 1,200 American employees who volunteered their time.
American employee participation provides the backbone for other
initiatives that support the troops, veterans and their families
including:
- Tribute to Vietnam
veterans: On Nov. 4, American
honored more than 1,300 Vietnam-period veterans who are employees,
retirees and family members at special events at all of American's
nine hubs and the Tulsa maintenance base. As Commemorative Partners
with the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration,
American Airlines leadership presented special lapel pins and
certificates to the Vietnam
veterans in honor of their service and sacrifice.
- Salute to the Troops: This Veterans Day weekend, American will partner with
MGM Resorts International and the USO of Metropolitan
Washington-Baltimore to host nearly 80 wounded warriors and
their guests from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and
other locations for the seventh annual "Salute to the Troops."
American will provide a chartered aircraft for the trip to
Las Vegas, where they will be
treated to entertainment, sightseeing and other activities.
- Seats for Soldiers: On Dec.
12, American and the Dallas Mavericks will celebrate their
10th 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 funded 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 2015 event, scheduled for Dec. 12-16, 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/.
- Air Compassion for Veterans: Through the employee-led
Fuel Smart program, $3.6 million in
travel has been donated to Air Compassion for Veterans, a
non-profit organization that helps active and retired U.S. military
veterans and immediate family travel for medical, counseling and
rehabilitation needs. Fuel Smart efforts safely reduce fuel
consumption by implementing viable suggestions from employees
throughout the airline.
Some of American's participation comes through its employees who
are members of the company sponsored Veteran Military Employee
Business Resource Group, which was the first of its kind in the
U.S. airline industry. Members make a difference in the communities
where they live and work by donating their time – providing support
for Honor Flights from across the USA, 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.
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 and priority baggage delivery in the claim area.
For more information about the ways American Airlines supports
military, veterans and their families, please visit
aa.com/giving.
About American Airlines Group
American Airlines Group
(NASDAQ: AAL) is the holding company for American Airlines.
Together with regional partners operating as American Eagle,
American offers an average of nearly 6,700 flights per day to
nearly 350 destinations in more than 50 countries. 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. This year American Airlines Group Inc.
topped Fortune Magazine's list of best business turnarounds and its
stock joined the S&P 500 index. Connect with American on
Twitter @AmericanAir and at Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines.
Logo -
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130208/DA56847LOGO
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-airlines-pays-tribute-to-us-veterans-300176216.html
SOURCE American Airlines