SUPPORT OUR MILITARY: DONATE YOUR FREQUENT FLYER MILES

Operation Hero Miles ^ | 11/10/2003 | Peja

[peja]

Show your support for our brave military in yet another meaningful way. Donate your frequent flyer miles to pay for round-trip airfare for our troops returning back to US soil for R&R or emergency leave.

United Airlines is one of the participating airlines: http://www.united.com/press/detail/0,1442,51434,00.html

Go here for complete details: http://www.heromiles.org

Pass it on...

:)

[cgk]

Still waiting for US Airways to offer this option... I'd be happy to donate my miles since I don't plan on flying anytime soon.

[mathluv]

Delta has it allset up.

[Dante3]

Great idea!

Also, let's also send them cards and packages for Christmas. Many will not be able to come home.

[VOA]

a momentary, but related, sidebar:
I know I'm like a broken record, but here goes...

NOW HEAR THIS ALL LURKERS/POSTERS:

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH IS THE DEADLINE for inexpensive Parcel Post mailing of miltary
care-packages to our BEST AND BRIGHTEST who will be stationed far from home for the holidays.
...some of these folks will be spending their first Thanksgiving, Christmas and
New Years away from home and family, in one of the about 160 countries...

TIME to:
SHOP
BOX
and
MAIL

for shipping advice, see threads at these URLs:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1003802/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/997310/posts

THAT IS ALL!
At Ease!

[self_evident]

Sigh... no NWA. Nothworst strikes again.

[windchime]

Bump!

[mrtoby]

Last week my family and I flew to London and because of a problem experienced by my son, Delta offered him a free upgrade to first class. He saw a Marine NCO seated next to us and asked if the soldier wouldn't mind exchanging seats so he could sit next to his family. Of course, the soldier was thrilled and most gratefully agreed and packed up his stuff and moved forward. I have TWO heroes now, the soldier and my son. And those coach seats sure are uncomfortable :)

[peja]

Great story :)

bumping this again - does that move the topic to the top? (I'm obviously new to this board)

Yesterday, I called United and asked just how many miles I had racked up with business travel over the years. Over 60,000. Donated them all, to which the United rep replied with enthusiasm. She said it will pay for 2 round-trip tix and then some! Sweet.

[Gennaro]

I don't get it. I thought the military was responsible for
getting the troops back home, even for R&R

[peja]

From what I understand, the government pays for the initial trip back to the main hub airport (back to base), but the soldiers are on their own to purchase round-trip tickets back to their hometowns or other destinations of choice while on R&R or emergency leave...

go to http://www.heromiles.org to read more.

[BurbankKarl]

bttt

Donated 14715 miles from my United account...they were due to expire next month anyway....if they match the miles, that is nearly a free ticket I believe.

Thanks for posting this information!

[DWC]

Just sent a letter out transferring my skymiles to the military. It's called skymiles for heroes. Feels good.

[boxerblues]

I'm sure the soldiers will appreciate the donations they are receiving. Its been a long time since they have seen their families.

This military mom thanks you!

[DWC]

My pleasure.

[VOA]

bump

[VOA]

peja, I apologize in advance to you and Jim Robinson for stealing this thread momentarily...

Dear Fellow Freepers...I'm hi-jacking this thread for a short side-bar in hopes to inform you to motivate y'all just a bit.....
the deadline (November 13th) for mailing military care-packages via the APO/FPO route to
our best and brightest has passed.

BUT...you can still mail military care packages!
I know, I DID IT YESTERDAY! (Saturday 11-15-03)

It's still TIME to:
SHOP
BOX
and
MAIL

for shipping advice, see threads at these URLs:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1003802/posts
(please not that the USPS website URL are missing a ".com"),
and remember to mark the "Redirect" box and write in "Commander/Chaplain"
on the Customs form...that way your box will definitely be used
AND
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/997310/posts


Further info. on VOA's mailing of two packages on 11-15-03, Saturday

I'll admit that it's costly. I loaded up one of the free "Priority Mail" cardboard boxes from the
local United States Post Office.
I loaded up each of two boxes with all sorts of "comfort food" and "personal hygiene" items that
should be useful, no matter if the recipient gets them or they are redirected by a "commander/chaplain".

I loaded each boxes with food items like...
flavored coffeed (e.g, hazelnut flavored that had sugar in the blend),
artificially-sweetened Tropical-Punch-flavored Kool-Aid (so sugar isn't required),
Spam-brand "Oven-roasted Turkey" (no pork products; metal-sealed for long-term preservation)...something
that a hungry Iraqi might really appreciate as a gift),
Lipton soup-packets in the flavors of "chicken noodle", "ranch", and "beef onion" (humble, but a change of pace!)
Oreo Cookies ("America's Favorite Cookie"...so I bet US soliders like 'em),
M&Ms -- holiday-colors...bet those will be well received around the tent!,
disposable razors (and a bar of "Burma-Shave" brand shaving soap!),
new toothbrushes (heck, might just be useful in cleaning an M-16!) and toothpaste,
solid-form under-arm deoderant....

I'm sure that folks who've actually served in a long-term deployment far from home, especially when separated
from beloved family and friends DURING THE HOLIDAYS can come up with even much more meaningful
and significant items to send to those who are abroad...protecting us, their fellow band of brothers and sisters,
and, at a long reach.....you and me.

[montrosebeat]

Hello All,
I kinda just stumbled by this page. I think its wonderful how you really care about the military. I am currently station in Ah Nasiriah Iraq myself. I left my wife and two kids about a month ago in Okinawa Japan. She is going to take military hop to Los Angeles, but we are having a hard time finding some of these programs that all of you have been giving your miles. Some of these programs would work for me, but since she is a spouse of active duty and not active duty they do not recognize her. WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR A HAND OUT! We are just looking for a way that the girls can spend some of the holidays with some family. If any of you know of any programs that will allow my wife and kids to fly from LA to anywhere on the East Coast for less than $1200.00 and not have to do a 14 day advance purchase I would be eternally greatful. We cannot make a 14 day advance purchase because she has to take a military plane from Japan, and those things are so unreliable that we would lose all of our money. Once again we are not looking for a handout just someway to get past that 14 day advance tickets purchase. If you know of anyway please email me or respond to this message. You can check out my family at www.montrosebeat.com. I also have a section there with me in Iraq. Enjoy! and God Bless

[VOA]

Some of these programs would work for me, but since she is a spouse of active duty and
not active duty they do not recognize her.

Hello montrosebeat,
As a never-served civilian, about all I can give you is inexpert suggestions.
Has your wife checked with the USO or similar organizaions?
While they may not have a program to help, maybe she can ferret out some
helpful info. from that sort of resource.

We are just looking for a way that the girls can spend some of the holidays
with some family. If any of you know of any programs that will allow my wife and
kids to fly from LA to anywhere on the East Coast for less than $1200.00 and not
have to do a 14 day advance purchase I would be eternally greatful.

My quick suggestion would be for you to focus on maybe two or three destination cities...
that way your wife can check with the specific airlines that fly in/out of those
East Coast cities.
I don't know the airline biz, but it MIGHT be that some airlines MIGHT listen to
the plea of a military
dependent and bend their rules...a bit.

Final suggestion: if your wife has (or can get) decent internet access, she might listen
live online to The Peter Greenberg Show on KABC (in Los Angeles; live over the net
at www.kabc.com, Sunday at 11AM-1PM Pac Time). She might even be able to send
an e-mail info request to Greenberg at this URL:
http://www.kabc.com/contactus.asp
(she'd just have to tick the "Peter Greenberg - Travel Show" and send in a short message
about her situation and need for advise...this is where focusing on two or three East
Coast destination would really help).

I don't know how much help I've given. It may just be time to go dig out the info.
and Google until something can be found on the net.
Good luck...and stay safe.

[VOA]

montrosebeat,
Let me amplify a bit on the previous message.
Your wife SHOULD send that info. request to Peter Greenberg.
And she should request an e-mail reply as she might not get Internet access to listen
live AND Greenberg might not actually address the subject of travel for military dependents.

Again, good luck and stay safe...for you and all your group.