Wednesday, Jul. 29, 2009

Donate your unused frequent flier miles to military families

Citizens with unused air miles can donate those frequent flier miles to Operation Hero Miles to help military families visit service members who were injured in Iraq or Afghanistan.

"I encourage everyone in the Land of Lincoln to honor those who fight for our freedom by supporting Operation Hero Miles," Gov. Pat Quinn said. "Donating unused frequent flier miles is a convenient way for the people of Illinois to show appreciation for our heroes, like Corporal Chad Watson."

Wounded troops are recovering in military hospitals around the world.

Watson was a marine corporal wounded in 2006 in Fallujah, losing his right leg above the knee to an improvised explosive device. He was transported to Bethesda Naval Hospital where Operation Hero Miles flew out his then-finance Jillian, sister, brother-in-law and best friend to be with him during his surgery and recovery. Watson's family used Operation Hero Miles five times during his 18-month stay at Walter Reed Army Medical Center to travel from Illinois to Washington, DC.

Watson and Jillian now live in Port Barrington.

"Operation Hero Miles gave my loved ones the opportunity to visit me in the hospital. Having them by my side made me feel like I could accomplish anything and was vital to my recovery," Watson said. "I am thankful to those who have donated their miles to help those of us who have been wounded in service."

Operation Hero Miles is administered by Fisher House, a nonprofit foundation that provides a home away from home at little or no cost for family members of military personnel receiving medical care at military and Veterans Affairs medical centers around the world.

Quinn recently returned from his fifth visit to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and Fisher House in Germany. Landstuhl is often the first stop on a long road home for many soldiers wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan.

To donate airline miles for families to visit wounded military personnel at medical centers visit www.FisherHouse.org. Over 17,000 tickets have been issued through donations to Operation Heroes Miles. Airline tickets are available for families of military and can only be used for travel related to a medical condition. Service members being treated for injury can also request a ticket to travel home while on medical leave.

Operation Hero Miles has partnered with the following air carriers:

* AirTran Airways

* Alaska Airlines

* American Airlines

* Frontier Airlines

* Midwest Airlines

* Northwest Airlines

* United Airlines

* US Airways