American Airlines and the Gary Sinise Foundation Mark 20 Years of Honoring Gold Star and Fallen First Responder Families Through Snowball Express
American Airlines has reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to military and first responder families by partnering once again with the Gary Sinise Foundation (GSF) to support the 20th annual Snowball Express, a cherished tradition dedicated to honoring the children and spouses of fallen U.S. service members and first responders. The milestone underscores two decades of compassion, remembrance, and community-building for families who carry the profound and lasting impact of loss.
Snowball Express, one of the Gary Sinise Foundation’s flagship programs, provides surviving families with a transformative experience filled with joy, healing, and connection. Through this initiative, families who have endured unimaginable sacrifice are welcomed into a supportive community and offered a space to create new memories while honoring those they have lost. American Airlines has been an essential partner since the early days of the program, and the airline’s continued involvement highlights the deep value it places on honoring military heroes and supporting those they leave behind.
A Global Effort to Bring Families Together
This December marks one of the most ambitious Snowball Express operations in the program’s history. Across two weeks, American Airlines will donate 16 charter aircraft and contribute millions of AAdvantage® miles, ensuring more than 2,600 family members can travel to Walt Disney World Resort for an all-expenses-paid holiday experience.
Families will depart from 29 cities around the world, demonstrating the program’s far-reaching impact on a global community of survivors. Departure points span an extensive geographic range — from Alaska and Hawaii to Germany, Guam, and numerous major U.S. hubs — ensuring that no family is left behind due to distance or logistical hurdles. For many families, this trip represents not just a holiday getaway, but a chance to share space with others who uniquely understand their grief and resilience.
From the moment families arrive at their local airports, they are greeted with warmth and enthusiasm. American’s team members often organize festive decorations, music, patriotic displays, and surprise activities for children. Young travelers receive special greetings and care throughout their journey, setting the tone for a week of comfort, excitement, and community once they reach Orlando.
Coordinated Operations to Support Military Families
The first of the two major travel waves takes place on Saturday, December 6, when American Airlines will coordinate air and ground logistics for nearly 1,600 family members of fallen U.S. military service members. Ten charter aircraft will depart from 21 cities nationwide, all converging at Orlando International Airport (MCO), where volunteers, team members, and GSF representatives will welcome families with flags, cheers, and heartfelt gratitude.
These families are collectively known as Gold Star families, a designation reserved for relatives of service members who have died while serving their country. For many Gold Star children, Snowball Express is one of the few times each year that they can connect with others who have experienced similar loss and share a space where they feel deeply understood.
The week-long experience at Walt Disney World Resort includes private events, special ceremonies, remembrance activities, entertainment, and opportunities to build lasting friendships. In addition to celebratory moments, Snowball Express includes spaces for reflection and healing, such as the poignant Remembrance Garden, where families honor their loved ones through photos, messages, and shared stories.
Honoring Fallen First Responders
A week later, on Saturday, December 13, the focus shifts to honoring the families of fallen First Responders, including firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and other emergency personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty. During this second travel wave, American Airlines will operate six dedicated charter flights from eight departure cities, transporting approximately 1,000 surviving family members to Orlando for their own week of healing and celebration.
This expansion of Snowball Express to include First Responder families reflects the Gary Sinise Foundation’s broader mission of honoring not only military heroes but also the courageous individuals who serve and sacrifice on the front lines of communities every day. American Airlines’ support in making this dual-week program a reality demonstrates the airline’s commitment to recognizing all who protect and serve.
A Partnership Rooted in Service and Sacrifice
American’s long-term involvement with Snowball Express is more than a corporate partnership — it is a defining part of the airline’s culture and identity. For years, employees across the company have embraced Snowball Express as a cherished annual tradition, taking pride in the opportunity to honor families who have endured profound loss.
Randy Stillinger, American’s Manager of Military and Veterans Initiatives, emphasized the meaning behind the commitment:
The mission of Snowball Express is to unite the families of the fallen and create new happy memories during the holiday season. This is just one of many ways American continues to honor the families of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Through our partnership with the Gary Sinise Foundation, we want to remind these families that their loved ones’ service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.
Stillinger’s statement captures the essence of American’s involvement: a deep responsibility to ensure that the sacrifices of fallen heroes are honored not only in word, but in ongoing action.
The People Behind the Mission: More Than 1,000 Team Members Volunteer Each Year
One of the most remarkable aspects of Snowball Express is the immense volunteer effort behind it. Each year, more than 1,000 American Airlines team members donate their time, talent, and compassion to bring the event to life.
This includes:
- Pilots who volunteer their days off to fly the charter missions
- Flight attendants who create festive, memorable onboard experiences
- Ground teams and airport leaders who organize red-carpet send-offs
- Operations staff, who coordinate the massive logistical footprint
- Volunteers and family programs teams, who work directly with participants
Many team members consider Snowball Express one of the most meaningful events of their careers. Some have been returning volunteers for more than a decade, building lasting friendships with families they see year after year.
In airports across the country, team members often create magical send-offs complete with:
- Holiday decorations and themed photo backdrops
- Special snacks, gifts, and activities for children
- Live music, including performances by airport musicians or local bands
- Drumlines, flag presentations, and patriotic displays
- Honor guards and community volunteers who join in support
These moments set the stage for an unforgettable week in Orlando.
Creating New Memories While Honoring Legacies
For surviving families, the Christmas season can be a bittersweet time. Snowball Express offers a unique blend of celebration and remembrance, ensuring that while families enjoy the festivities of Walt Disney World Resort, the legacies of their loved ones remain at the heart of the experience.
Activities throughout the week are designed to foster connection, reflection, and joy:
- Memorial ceremonies where families share stories of their heroes
- Private park access and exclusive experiences at Disney
- Group activities to build friendships among children of similar ages
- Therapeutic and grief-support programs tailored to kids and teens
- Moments of reflection, such as candle ceremonies and remembrances
These experiences help families form bonds that last long after the event ends, creating a supportive network that many describe as a second family.
A Milestone Year with Enduring Impact
As Snowball Express celebrates its 20th year, its mission remains as vital as ever: to ensure that the children and families of fallen heroes are honored, supported, and embraced during the holiday season and beyond. American Airlines’ unwavering support underscores the depth of gratitude felt by communities across the country.
For many families, Snowball Express is not an event — it is a lifeline, a place where grief is understood, joy is rediscovered, and loved ones’ legacies are celebrated with dignity and pride.
Through the continued partnership between American Airlines and the Gary Sinise Foundation, thousands of families will once again gather, connect, heal, and create new memories that honor the past while bringing hope for the future.
Source link: https://news.aa.com