AMERICAN AIRLINES, USO AND THE SANDS FOUNDATION TEAM UP TO GIVE WOUNDED MILITARY WARRIORS

JFK Airport, Queens, NY (November 11, 2010) – For the second year in a row in celebration of Veterans Day, American Airlines, the USO and The Sands Foundation got together to give 150 wounded military warriors and their families a free weekend trip to Las Vegas. The American Eagle Boeing 767-200 adorned with yellow-ribbons nick-named ‘Flagship Independence’, transported U.S. troops and families on its inaugural flight from New York’s JFK Airport to the Venetian in Las Vegas for second annual ‘Tribute to the Troops’. This “Tribute to the Troops 2010 Las Vegas” group includes service members from Fort Benning in Columbus, Ga.; Bethesda Navy Hospital; Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.; and veterans from the New York City area.

The rollout of Flagship Independence brings to six the number of American and American Eagle aircraft that proudly sport iconic yellow-ribbon decals and the slogan, “In support of all who serve,” on their fuselages, a visual expression of the airlines’ support for the nation’s armed forces. The other yellow-ribbon aircraft include an American Airlines 757, Flagship Freedom; a 737, Flagship Liberty; and three American Eagle aircraft. These aircraft are often utilized for special charter flights for veterans, wounded military and first responders.

American Airlines, the official airline of the USO, joined with the Sands Foundation (the charitable arm of Las Vegas Sands Corp.) again honor our nation’s veterans and active members with a weekend of relaxation, entertainment, sightseeing, and educational seminars.

The Master of Ceremony, Mark Magarian of American’s JFK Customer Service said that “American Airlines has long-standing ties to the nation’s armed forces. With more than 60 percent of American’s pilots and 10 percent of all American and American Eagle Airlines employees serving as active military or veterans, the company places a strong emphasis on its military and veteran’s initiatives. American supports members of the military, veterans and their families in their communities via in-kind contributions to nonprofit organizations and employee engagement in a wide variety of events and activities. American also offers special airfares, priority boarding and Admirals Club Lounge access for qualifying active military.”

Publishers: Contact me thru my blog for permission to publish the whole story

and choose from an array of photos.

Note: Editors - for the whole story and to vew additional images for publication, contact me directly via e-mail at: transprailien@gmail.com.