Published:
Sun Country Airlines Flies War Vets to D.C. to See Memorials
ST. PAUL, Minn. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Sun Country Airlines (www.suncountry.com)
has partnered with Honor Flight Tri-State (www.honorflights.org).
The airline will fly WWII Veterans to Washington D.C. to give the
honorees the opportunity to reflect and visit their memorials. Sun
Country Pilot, Jay Biggs, and Flight Attendant, Carol Doro, whom are
operating the Honors Flight, will have their fathers, U.S. Veterans,
on-board.
Over 160 Vets will depart on Saturday, November 7 at 6:30 a.m. and
return at 10:30 p.m. The Honor Program will have coffee and treats in
the gate area and Sun Country will be hosting a "send off" by the
Cretin-Derham Hall JROTC Color Guard. Immediately after landing in D.C.,
the Veterans will board a bus that will take them to the following
memorials: Iwo Jima, Arlington Cemetery, Pentagon, Air Force Memorial,
Smithsonians, US Capitol, Supreme Court, Navy Memorial, the White House,
Washington Monument, World War II Memorial, Korean Memorial, Lincoln
Memorial, and Vietnam Veterans Wall. The Veterans will be welcomed back
from D.C. with a special reception hosted by the Armed Forces Service
Center (www.mnafsc.org).
The reception will involve musicians from the 34th ID Red Bull band,
Color Guards, AFSC and family members greeting the Veterans.
"This is an opportunity for Sun Country Airlines to give back to the
community and honor those who have risked their lives for the sake of
others," said Wendy Blackshaw, Vice President of Marketing & Sales. "We
hope to provide an opportunity to Veterans who, otherwise, would not
have had an opportunity to see the memorials created in their honor. We
hope to continue this tradition in the future," continued Blackshaw.
For Carol Doro, a Sun Country Flight Attendant operating the Honor
Flight, Saturday's trip has even more meaning. This being Carol's tenth
Honor Flight, she will now have the experience of her father going to
the wall, being thanked and honored. Carol's father, Don Coder, operated
a Paravane on the USS Orion and Liberty Launch vessels.
"Now is their time where all of us, as a country, can stand "at
attention" and give them the honors they deserve. This is the day for us
to respect, give back, listen and learn from all of them," said Carol
Doro, Sun Country Airlines Flight Attendant. "The previous flights I've
had the privilege to work taught me that the human spirit of these
WWII vets is resilient to adversity, as some of them have lived really
hard lives," continued Doro.
Jay Biggs, a Sun Country Pilot operating the Honor Flight, also feels
especially privileged to work this trip. The Honor Flight Saturday will
be Jay's first with the program, though he looks forward to
participating in many more in the years to come. Jay's father, Lee
Biggs, served as a Pharmacist Mate First Class Petty Officer, with the
Aircraft Ordinance Repair Navy, as well as in the Combat Aircraft
Service Unit and received a "Purple Heart."
"It is an honor and privilege to have the opportunity to participate in
this event and fly our WWII Veterans to their memorial. It is a small
tribute to these men and women who have sacrificed so much and have
asked for so little in return," said Jay Biggs, Sun Country Airlines
Pilot. "It is awe inspiring to consider what our Veterans endured that
has provided us with the liberties we enjoy today. These men and women
are truly members of 'The Greatest Generation,'" continued Biggs.
About Sun Country Airlines
MN Airlines, LLC, d.b.a. Sun
Country Airlines is based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Sun Country, which has
earned a reputation for offering world class service at an affordable
price, was recently named in the "Top Ten Domestic Airlines" by Travel+Leisure
for the fourth year in a row and Conde Nast Traveler for the
third year in a row. The airline flies to popular destinations in the
U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean. For a complete list of destinations and
more information, please visit www.suncountry.com.
Sun Country Airlines
Media Contact:
Wendy Blackshaw,
612-239-3941
Vice President of Marketing
or
Heidi Bausch,
952-905-8492
Marketing Coordinator
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