Families of fallen military members gather at Fayetteville Regional Airport for a trip to Disney World on board the Gary Sinise Foundation Snowball Express's American Airlines charter on Dec. 2, 2023.
Photo by Anthony Wooten
Fred Reissig, Dean Burgess, Ken Vangalder, Dan McPherson, and his wife Carolyn of the Patriot Guard Riders prepare to help families with their luggage as they arrive at the airport on Dec. 2, 2023.
Photo by Anthony Wooten
Families of fallen military members gather at Fayetteville Regional Airport for a trip to Disney World on board the Gary Sinise Foundation Snowball Express's American Airlines charter on Dec. 2, 2023.
Photo by Anthony Wooten
Families of fallen military members gather at Fayetteville Regional Airport for a trip to Disney World on board the Gary Sinise Foundation Snowball Express's American Airlines charter on Dec. 2, 2023.
Photo by Anthony Wooten
Families of fallen military members gather at Fayetteville Regional Airport for a trip to Disney World on board the Gary Sinise Foundation Snowball Express's American Airlines charter on Dec. 2, 2023.
Photo by Anthony Wooten
Airport Director Dr. Toney Coleman (right) welcomes Rebecca Boniface and her daughter Mia (left) as they arrive for the Snowball Express on Dec. 2, 2023.
Photo by Anthony Wooten
John (right) and Matthew Tibbs enjoy food provided by Superior Bakery as they wait for the arrival of the Snowball Express on Dec. 2, 2023.
Photo by Anthony Wooten
Families of fallen military members gather at Fayetteville Regional Airport for a trip to Disney World on board the Gary Sinise Foundation Snowball Express's American Airlines charter on Dec. 2, 2023.
Photo by Anthony Wooten
Coleman addresses the Gold Star families preparing to board the Snowball Express on Dec. 2, 2023.
Photo by Anthony Wooten
Chaplain Lorenzen of Fort Liberty speaks and extends a prayer to the Gold Star families waiting to board the Snowball Express on Dec. 2, 2023.
Photo by Anthony Wooten
Families of fallen military members gather at Fayetteville Regional Airport for a trip to Disney World on board the Gary Sinise Foundation Snowball Express's American Airlines charter on Dec. 2, 2023.
Photo by Anthony Wooten
Jon Masson, an ambassador for the Gary Sinise Foundation, addresses the Gold Star families preparing to board the Snowball Express on Dec. 2, 2023.
Photo by Anthony Wooten
The American Airlines crew greets the Gold Star families preparing to board the Snowball Express on Dec. 2, 2023.
Photo by Anthony Wooten
Masson speaks with a Gold Star family preparing to board the Snowball Express on Dec. 2, 2023.
Photo by Anthony Wooten
Santana Renjifo (right) and Mackenzie Kemp share an electronic device before boarding the Snowball Express on Dec. 2, 2023.
Photo by Anthony Wooten
Family members begin boarding the Snowball Express on Dec. 2, 2023.
Photo by Anthony Wooten
Family members begin boarding the Snowball Express on Dec. 2, 2023.
Photo by Anthony Wooten
American Airlines crew member Benjamin Reid makes the last of preparations to the cabin of the Snowball Express as family members prepare to board on Dec. 2, 2023.
Photo by Anthony Wooten
Fayetteville Airport team members wave goodbye to the Snowball Express as it departs for Orlando, Florida, on Dec. 2, 2023.
Photo by Anthony Wooten
The Snowball Express arrives at Fayetteville Regional Airport on Dec. 2, 2023.
The Gary Sinise Foundation Snowball Express returned to Fayetteville on Dec. 2 to fly Gold Star families — families who have lost a loved one in active duty after Sept. 11, 2001 — to Orlando, Florida, for a trip to Walt Disney World.
The nonprofit's goal of “Serving the Children of Our Fallen Military Heroes” was accomplished through the efforts of Fayetteville Regional Airport Director Dr. Toney Coleman, Chaplain Lorenzen of Fort Liberty, Jon Masson, an Ambassador for the Gary Sinise Foundation, American Airlines crew and others.
Once in Orlando, the Gold Star families will take part in A Walk of Gratitude honoring their sacrifice, a private concert, and other all-expenses paid activities.
Keywords
Fayetteville,
Gold Star,
families,
Snowball Express,
airport,
Gary Sinise Foundation
