Actor Gary Sinise Took 1,000 Kids Of Fallen Military Heroes To Disney World
Gary Sinise Foundation
Actor Gary Sinise and his foundation treated 1,000 kids of fallen military heroes to the trip of a lifetime.
Each year, actor Gary Sinise — who founded the Gary Sinise Foundation in 2011 — and his team organize a special trip for family members of military veterans who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Their trip last year was perhaps one of the best as they brought about 1,750 people (1,000 of them children) out to Disney World for five-day vacation.
The foundation packed 15 airplanes with these families and sent them off on the trip of a lifetime.
“Each one of these children who are going on these airplanes have lost a parent in military services – either combat related or illness or unfortunately suicide sometimes,” Sinise said of the trip.
In addition to the trip to Disney World, the families and their children received a very merry greeting at the Los Angeles International Airport beforehand. Kids were able to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, who brought gifts in tow. Santa made his dramatic entrance on a helicopter to the airport.
“I [didn’t know] that he would be here in a helicopter – I thought he was gonna be jumping out of there in a parachute,” said Desmond, whose father Army Sgt. Myles Penix died in 2016. The boy and his mother, Jade Penix, were the first in line to greet Santa.
“It’s just important ’cause of all of the bonding that we get to do. He gets to find friends who are just like him, and I get to find ones that have lost just like me,” Penix said. The annual trip is known as the Snowball Express and is held every year by Sinise’s organization.
“The most important thing about [the Snowball Express] is that these children don’t feel alone,” Sinise said. “There’s a lot of healing and a lot of bonding and a lot of friendship that goes on that helps them through the rest of the year.”
It’s unclear where the actor will be taking the kids next, but no matter where they go, they’re bound to have a good time.
Now that you’re caught up on the happiest news stories from this year, read about the unreliable science behind understanding happiness. Then, check out 21 stunning photos of New Year celebrations around the world.
