Another True Christmas Story: The Snowball Express
There are some real Christmas heroes out there. The other day I wrote about John Wiseman of Monterrey, California, who gave up his retirement to manage his Searle art supply and framing stores so that 17 long-term employees would continue to have their jobs.
1,430 relatives of fallen military personnel have been flown aboard “Snowball Express” flights from various cities around the country to enjoy a few days at Disneyland in California. ”Snowball Express is a nonprofit operation that began three years ago in Costa Mesa, Calif. About 90 percent of the $5 million projected cost of this year’s expenses are covered by donations, spearheaded by American Airlines, Hilton hotels, Disney, Universal Studios and the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW.”
Normally around the holidays, people like to take some time off to spend with family and friends. However, when American Airlines asked for volunteers, The Detroit Free Press noted that 500 volunteers raised their hands “ to fly six planes in hopscotch routes to California Tuesday and back Saturday.”
One such pilot, Stephen Szuminski of Saline, “who typically flies stints to Europe from Chicago, said he planned to chat with passengers until taking over the controls between Phoenix and Los Angeles.” He explained his motive for volunteering for the flight as follows:
“My kids are without their dad for two days” at a time, said Szuminski, who’s been flying for 22 years. “These kids are without their dad forever. It’s hardly fair. Donating my time for a couple of days to make them happy — it’s the Christmas spirit.”
Over 40 children, spouses and parents flew from Michigan and the Midwest.
An all-expense-paid trip to Disneyland won’t bring back 10-year-old Alexandra Miller’s dad, Army Capt. Lowell “Tom” Miller, II, 35, of Flint, who was killed by small-arms fire in Iskandariyah, Iraq, in 2005. But her trip … will give her something happy to talk about with others going through the same experience.
What a beautiful thing to do for all of those people who must be hurting ssomuch. My heart goes out to them.
