AMERICANWAY

December 2014

Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/428873

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 99 of 127

American Insight E VERY DECEMBER, as many as 2,000 children and their families gather in Dallas/Fort Worth for an extended weekend of fun and socializing. Though they come from all over the coun- try and even some international locations to participate in Snowball Express, these children all have one very significant thing in com- mon: Each of them has lost a parent serving on active duty. Now in its ninth year, Snowball Express brings together families of post-9/11 fallen military members for an all-expenses-paid trip to create new memories and provide much- needed support. As the official airline and presenting spon- sor of Snowball Express, American Airlines provides charter and commercial transportation for participants. Nearly 150 American Airlines pilots and flight attendants donate their time to flights for families to and from Dallas/Fort Worth for the five-day event. Crews dress up and deck the halls of each aircraft with holiday decorations, and American employees throw a send-off party at each departure airport, bring- ing in costumed characters, games and treats for the children, who are ages 5 to 18. When families arrive in Dallas/Fort Worth, they experience fun and camaraderie all around North Texas. Past events have included trips to the Fort Worth Zoo, the Fort Worth Stockyards and Six Flags Over Texas. Snowball families have also attended and participated in shows by the USO Show Troupe, magician and speaker David Hira, actor Gary Sinise & the Lt. Dan Band and other entertainers. The weekend is also a time for the families to support each other, share their grief and celebrate their ac- complishments after such a devastating loss. This year's Snowball Express will include a trip to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, a screening of Annie and a talent show. Gary Sinise & the Lt. Dan Band will also perform for their eighth year. Plus, Hira will return to emcee many of the weekend's evening events and the Grand Finale Show. The weekend also includes the annual "Walk of Gratitude," a procession that allows members of the Dallas/Fort Worth community to cheer for the children and their families and to honor the sacrifices their husbands, wives, moms and dads have made. American is proud to provide ways you can contribute to initiatives that assist children and honor our nation's servicemen and women. Donate your unused AAdvantage ® miles to Miles for All Who Serve, benefiting organiza- tions such as the USO, the Airpower Founda- tion or Miles for Kids in Need, and support events like Snowball Express and organiza- tions such as the United States Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation and Mercy Medical. To learn more about American Airlines Giving, please visit aa.com/joinus . Make Way for the Snowball Express Annual event honors children and families of fallen servicemen and women. Inside Chicago O'Hare Your guide to getting around the Windy City's biggest airport Chicago O'Hare International (ORD) is the third largest hub for American Airlines. We maintain more than 350 daily departures to more than 120 nonstop destinations in 12 countries from O'Hare, one of the busiest airports in the world. Each day, you'll find up to 17 flights to New York LaGuardia, up to 10 flights to Europe and nonstop service to Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing. With our oneworld® partners, you can enjoy ac- cess to nearly 1,000 destinations worldwide. At ORD, American and US Airways oper- ate out of Terminal 3 in Concourses H and K . American Eagle flights operate out of Terminal 3 in Concourses G and L. International American flights arrive in Terminal 5. U.S., Canadian and eligible Visa Waiver Program international travelers can use the Automated Passport Control (APC) process, and travelers without checked baggage can enjoy one-stop immigration and customs processing. Terminal 3 is home to several restaurants and bars, including Tortas Frontera, Wolfgang Puck Café and Chicago's favorite Garrett Popcorn. Admirals Club lounges offer complimentary Wi-Fi, snacks, wine, beer and spirits. In Terminal 3, a club is across from Gate G8, and another is between Gates H6 and K6. Members enjoy access to more than 50 lounges worldwide, and day passes are also available. When departing from ORD, there's ample parking in the Economy lot, which also offers curbside bag-check. Flagship SM Check-In is an exclusive experience featuring personalized customer service and expedited access to secu- rity checkpoints. Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Blue Line provides direct train service from the airport to downtown in about 45 minutes, as well as through the west side of the city. The Blue Line trains run 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Start planning your trip to the Second City at aa.com/chicago. 1 02 D EC E M B E R 2 01 4 A A .CO M/A M E R I C A NWAY

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of AMERICANWAY - December 2014