Southwest Airlines Flies 180 Soldiers Home to Texas for Free

Don't Say the Airlines Are Always "Grinchy"

Who ever said airline companies didn't have a heart? Those airline companies no longer just care about profits, but uniting families together. One airline company, Southwest Airlines, paid for 180 soldiers to come back to Texas for the holidays. These soldiers stationed at Fort Bragg are now able to be with their families. The soldiers are part of the Texas National Guard and have been in Iraq for eleven months.

When their deployment was delayed, the soldiers were given a week of leave. However, many families were unable to pay for them to come back home. For some families, they were deeply saddened that they could not come up with the funds. It was not until Southwest Airlines stepped up to the plate, did the families' breathe a sigh of relief. Southwest Airlines named this special giving as "Operation Christmas Miracle".

Indeed, this was a miracle for many families. Ann Mahon, whose son was deployed in Iraq, heard about the news he could come home for a week. "It was great news. But I had to tell him unfortunately, we did not have the funds to pay for his airfare back to home. I would cry myself to sleep because I felt so guilty."

It caused much pain for Mahon and her family.

"As a mother, I felt so guilty that I could not bring my son back. I said, what happens if he were to get killed because (sobbing) I was unable to pay for him to come back," she said.

It was not until Southwest Airlines' miracle was she overjoyed and elated.

Mahon said her son arrived safely in Houston on Sunday December, 23rd. She expresses her sincere thanks to Southwest Airlines.

"I will be forever grateful for what they have done. This is definitely the best miracle and present I could ever ever wish or even dream of! I just want the company to know how thankful I am for what they have done."

Her son will be redeployed on New Year's Day to Iraq. It is truly something to see companies have a heart during the holidays for people who need it most.

Resource:
http://www.bragg.army.mil/18ABN/