A Unique Way to Help the Troops: Operation Hero Miles

[babylonsister]

I just heard Lee Woodruff mention this awesome program, so thought I'd share with the kindhearted DUers. There's more info at link on how to donate.

A Unique Way to Help the Troops

Operation Hero Miles was created by Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger in cooperation with close to a dozen United States Airlines in October, 2003. The program allows troops stationed in Iraq or Afghanistan to fly home on leave for free. It also gives family members of wounded servicemen and women free plane tickets to visit their loved ones recovering at military hospitals across the country. Operation Hero Miles gives ordinary citizens an opportunity to help our troops in a very direct way that makes a real difference in their lives.

The program is brilliant in its simplicity. Travelers donate their unused frequent flyer miles to the Pentagon and troopAugust 10, 2006lowing airlines are currently participating in Operation Hero Miles: AirTran Airways, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Midwest Airlines, Northwest Airlines, United Air Lines, and US Airways.

http://www.heromiles.org/

When Congressman Ruppersberger created Operation Hero Miles, the program awarded free tickets to servicemen and women stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan returning to the United States for their two weeks of Rest and Relaxation (R & R) Leave. In early 2004, the Department of Defense began paying for R & R leave. At that time, Operation Hero Miles began awarding free tickets to family members of wounded troops traveling to military hospitals to visit their injured loves ones. Sometimes the love and support of family is the best medicine to help a troop recover from a wound. Operation Hero Miles operates this program through a partnership with the Fisher House Foundation.

[aquart]

1. We don't fly them home?

We don't give them adequate body armor. We bill them for idiocies. We insist the wounded refund their signing bonuses.

God, we're nasty, ugly people.

We had to start a private CHARITY to fly our soldiers home?

[babylonsister]

2. We do now. From the OP:

In early 2004, the Department of Defense began paying for R & R leave.

The current efforts are designed to get the families to their wounded soldiers.