VETERANS CELEBRATED FOR THEIR SERVICE AS “SOARING VALOR” FLIES THROUGH LAX ON THE WAY TO THE WORLD WAR II MUSEUM IN NEW ORLEANS
World War II veterans participating in Soaring Valor and supporter pose before their flight to New Orleans.
(Los Angeles, California – July 27, 2017) Twenty-seven World War II veterans, along with their guardians, departed from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Wednesday morning for a two-day trip to the National World War II Museum in New Orleans as part of the Gary Sinise Foundation’s Soaring Valor program. Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) was proud to host the veterans, be part of their celebration, and to thank these heroes for their service to our country.
 World War II veteran and Soaring Valor participant Barney Leone shares a photo of himself from WWII, and his father who fought in World War I. |
The traveling party enjoyed a brief but rousing send off, including colors presented by the Los Angeles Airport Police Color Guard, a performance of the national anthem, and a chorus of “God Bless America,” for which veterans, guardians, and supporters present at the gate joined together to sing.
For the event, the Gary Sinise Foundation partnered with American Airlines to fly the group on a chartered airplane to the museum in New Orleans. They fly back to LAX on Friday morning.
“Every day, our terminals are filled with men, women, and children who bring with them amazing life stories, but few stories are more compelling than those of these brave veterans who fought for the United States of America more than seventy years ago,” said Trevor Daley, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) Deputy Executive Director for External Affairs. “LAX was honored to welcome the participants of Soaring Valor, and we know that this will be a rich and meaningful experience for everyone who is participating in this incredible program.”
Before the flight departed, World War II naval veteran Barney Leone spoke about the importance of Soaring Valor, saying, “In the Navy, when rode a ship put into commission, they would tell us to bring the ship to life by getting onboard. Gary Sinise is inviting us to go to the museum to bring it alive.”
 Preparing gift bags provided by LAWA for the WWII veterans of Soaring Valor. |
Wednesday morning’s send-off also included speeches from Jim Palmersheim, a board member from the Gary Sinise Foundation, and Senior Manager for Veterans and Military Programs for American Airlines; Jim Moses, Managing Director for American Airlines at LAX; and Becca Doten, Director of Public Relations at LAX.
Each of the veterans received a LAWA gift bag as a token of appreciation, which included a reusable water bottle and baseball cap.
Members of the Los Angeles Aiprort Police color guard present the colors during the National Anthem.
Los Angeles International Airport is the fourth busiest airport in the world, second in the United States, and was named one of Skytrax’s 2017 Top 10 Most Improved Airports. LAX served more than 80.9 million passengers in 2016. LAX offers 737 daily nonstop flights to 100 cities in the U.S. and 1,386 weekly nonstop flights to 88 cities in 44 countries on 73 commercial air carriers. LAX ranks 14th in the world and fifth in the U.S. in air cargo tonnage processed, with more than 2.2 million tons of air cargo valued at over $101.4 billion. LAX handled 697,138 operations (landings and takeoffs) in 2016.
An economic study based on 2014 operations reported LAX generated 620,600 jobs in Southern California with labor income of $37.3 billion and economic output (business revenues) of more than $126.6 billion. This activity added $6.2 billion to local and state revenues and $8.7 billion in federal tax revenues. The study also reported that LAX’s ongoing capital-improvement program creates an additional 121,640 annual jobs with labor income of $7.6 billion and economic output of $20.3 billion, $966 million in state and local taxes, and $1.6 billion in federal tax revenues.
LAX is also the second most popular airport in the world to appear on Instagram according to wego.com. LAX is part of a system of two Southern California airports – along with Van Nuys general aviation – that are owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports, a proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles that receives no funding from the City’s general fund.
As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. Alternative formats in large print, braille, audio, and other forms (if possible) will be provided upon request.
The Gary Sinise Foundation honors America’s defenders, veterans, first responders, their families and those in need. Through its R.I.S.E. program (Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment), specially adapted smart homes are being constructed for severely wounded veterans nationwide. Each one-of-a-kind home is customized to ease the everyday burdens of a wounded hero, their family, and caregivers. Other programs include Relief & Resiliency Outreach, Invincible Spirit Festivals, Gary Sinise &the Lt. Dan Band, Arts & Entertainment Outreach, Serving Heroes, and First Responders Outreach. Soaring Valor is sending WWII veterans to The National WWII Museum and documenting their first-hand accounts of the war. For more information, please
The National WWII Museum tells the story of the American experience in the war that changed the world – why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today – so that future generations will know the price of freedom and be inspired by what they learn. Dedicated in 2000 as The National D-Day Museum and now designated by Congress as America’s National WWII Museum, it celebrates the American Spirit, the teamwork, optimism, courage and sacrifices of the men and women who fought on the battlefront and served on the Home Front. For more information, call 877-813-3329 or 504-528-1944.
About American Airlines Group – Our Heroes – has a long standing tradition of serving those who serve our nation dating back to 1926. Today more than 6,000 of American’s 100,000 employees are serving in the armed forces or are veterans. Our initiatives include providing support to several organizations including; The Medal of Honor Foundation, the Gary Sinise Foundation and Airpower Foundation’s Sky Ball through mileage donations, charter flight assistance and workforce development opportunities.
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