Southwest Airlines Celebrates our Service Men and Women with Fourth Annual Military Heroes Month in November
DALLAS, Nov.6, 2013 /3BL Media/ — Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) is committed to honoring and thanking our service men and women who safeguard our country., During its fourth annual celebration in November dubbed “Military Heroes Month,” Southwest has the opportunity to show how much we care by recognizing the incredible sacrifices of Veterans, service members, and their families across the country. Using the weekly themes of Service, Honor, Sacrifice, and Celebrate, Southwest will commemorate our service men and women through activities with nonprofit organizations and special communication and engagement events. To read a blog post about Military Heroes Month, visit the NUTS About Southwest blog.
“Patriotism runs deep here at Southwest Airlines, and we’re committed to giving back to our nation’s heroes and thanking them for safeguarding our country, not just in November, but all year-long,” said Mike Van de Ven, Chief Operating Officer at Southwest Airlines. “Military Heroes Month is an extension of that commitment and gives us the opportunity to further demonstrate our appreciation to those have given so much in service to our nation.”
Southwest gives thanks to the military with the following activities:
Oct. 25 | The Mission Continues, Fellow Initiation, Houston, Texas
The Mission Continues (TMC) currently has more than 200 Veteran Fellows committed to community service across the country, empowering them to transition their military-based skills into civilian life. Southwest Airlines is sponsoring and supplying volunteers for the TMC Fellow initiation in Houston, welcoming in a new class of Fellows and volunteering alongside them to benefit the community.
Oct. 31 | Armed Forces Foundation “Busch-Whacked” Event, Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track, Fort Worth, Texas
Southwest Employee Volunteers are donating their time to the Armed Forces Foundation’s (AFF) “Busch-Whacked” mud run event at Texas Motor Speedway’s Dirt Track to help raise money for military families.
Nov. 6 | Faces of Freedom and the Texas Rangers, Sendoff to Washington, D. C., Dallas, Texas
Southwest Airlines and the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation have teamed up with Faces of Freedom to offer the trip of a lifetime for 14 military heroes and their families to travel from Dallas to Washington, D.C. to visit the World War II, Korean and Vietnam War monuments.
Nov. 9-11 | A Million Thanks, We LUV Our Troops Customer Card Campaign, Nationwide
To commemorate Veteran’s Day, Southwest is distributing Support Our Troops cards to all Inflight bases for Flight Attendants to share with Customers, allowing them to write their messages of thanks and support as they travel to their destinations. The cards will be sent to the nonprofit organization, “A Million Thanks,” who will distribute them to deployed U.S. Military Troops stationed around the world.
Nov. 9-12 | Operation Freedom Bird, Welcome Home Celebration, Washington, D.C.
Now in its 25th year of service, Operation Freedom Bird (OFB) provides a unique healing journey to Arizona’s combat veterans of all wars. Each year, approximately 50 Veterans are selected to participate in the four-day healing journey that includes visiting the War Memorials in Washington, D.C., and experiencing Veterans Day celebrations. For the past 14 years, Southwest Airlines has supported OFB by providing all program transportation and hosting a surprise celebration of the Veterans’ return home.
Nov. 12 | Veterans Day Parade, Dallas, Texas
Southwest Airlines is sponsoring and volunteering at the Dallas Veterans Day Parade to celebrate and show appreciation for our men and women in uniform who have fought tirelessly for our freedom.
November | Honor Flight Network, Nationwide
Since 2008, Southwest has had the privilege of helping make Veterans’ dreams come true as the official commercial airline of the Honor Flight Network (HFN). To date, Southwest has donated more than 5,800 tickets, connecting WWII Veterans to their respective memorials in Washington, D.C.
Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways are committed to giving from the heart to the communities they serve. In 2012, Southwest Employees volunteered more than 137,000 hours, which is enough time to fly from Houston to Washington, D.C., 46,917 times.
ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
In its 42nd year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other low-fare carriers by providing a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Including wholly owned subsidiary AirTran Airways, the Company now employs 46,000 People and serves 97 destinations in 41 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, six near-international countries.
Visit southwest.com/citizenship to read the Southwest Airlines One Report™ and see how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen while underscoring a commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet, distinguishing itself in support of men and women in uniform. The airline has been recognized numerous times by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) for its commitment and support of the airline’s Employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve; been named a Top Military Employer by GI Jobs Magazine; and received recognition for naming the month of November as “Military Heroes Month” and celebrating its partnerships with nonprofits focused on active duty military, Veterans, and families of military members.
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines, one of the most honored airlines in the world, is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded. With the addition of Des Moines (DSM), Southwest will operate more than 3,200 flights a day and serve the communities around 77 airports in Southwest's network of domestic destinations. To book a flight, visit southwest.com.
AirTran Airways
AirTran Airways, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines Co., has been ranked the top airline in the Airline Quality Rating study three times in the past five years. AirTran offers coast-to-coast and near-international service with nearly 600 flights a day on North America's newest all-Boeing fleet. The airline's low-cost, high-quality product also includes assigned seating and Business Class. To book a flight, visit airtran.com.
