Actor Gary Sinise takes over 1,000 kids of fallen soldiers to Disney

December 9, 2019

This is an amazing story….. thanks WESH news Orlando for the details! Also, Gary Sinise is the narrator this weekend at Epcot’s Candlelight Processional!

Thousands of family members of fallen military servicemen and women were flown to Orlando to spend five days at Walt Disney World Resort.

The trip, organized by the Gary Sinise Foundation, brings together families for a special experience each year, part of the organization’s year-round support.

The Genie Transportation Services

The so-called Snowball Express event is the result of a collaboration between the foundation and American Airlines.

Snowball Express began in 2006, with a letter written by a fallen soldier to his wife, only to be opened should he die in battle. While the letter expressed many things, one wish was that they visit Disneyland. From that letter, Snowball Express was created to bring together the children and surviving spouses of fallen U.S. military heroes for a healing retreat.

Families traveled to Orlando via 13 donated American Airlines charter flights with volunteer crews.

Sinise, the Hollywood star and actor who played the iconic Lt. Dan role in “Forrest Gump,” said the trip involved 1,000 Gold Star children and their surviving parents or guardians, more than 1,750 people altogether.

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Michele Atwood Founder & Editor-in-Chief, The Main Street Mouse
Michele Atwood is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Main Street Mouse, one of Florida's leading Disney and theme park news sources since 2010. A credentialed Disney Partner and media professional, Michele serves as a theme park contributor and insider for Fox 35 Orlando and WDBO radio covering Disney and Central Florida attractions. Michele has also contributed to the Orlando Sentinel, WESH 2, and Spectrum News 13. Michele is the published author of four books — "Moving to Main Street U.S.A.," "How Many Sleeps Till Disney?," "How Many Sleeps Till Disneyland?" and "Daydream Believing: Confessions of a Grown Up Princess" and is co-owner of the House of Mouse Expo and Lost Princess Apparel. With over a decade of hands-on coverage of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and Central Florida theme parks, Michele brings firsthand expertise and media access to every story she covers. Get my new book here! https://amzn.to/4oNqlBg



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