America - Helping The Troops: Operation Hero Miles

Now, this is one way to support our troops.

Operation Hero Miles was created by Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger in cooperation with close to a dozen United States Airlines in October, 2003. The program allows troops stationed in Iraq or Afghanistan to fly home on leave for free. It also gives family members of wounded servicemen and women free plane tickets to visit their loved ones recovering at military hospitals across the country. Operation Hero Miles gives ordinary citizens an opportunity to help our troops in a very direct way that makes a real difference in their lives.

The program is brilliant in its simplicity. Travelers donate their unused frequent flyer miles to the Pentagon and troops and families use them to get free tickets. In the first six months of the program, 540 million miles were donated - enough for 22,000 free tickets.

The following airlines are participating in Operation Hero Miles: AirTran Airways, Alaska Airlines, America West Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Independence Air, Northwest Airlines, and US Airways.

Donations are currently being accepted from the following airlines: Alaska Airlines, America West Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, and Northwest Airlines.
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