An amazing organization based in Washington, D.C. is assisting military families to cover the cost of airfare so they can be reunited with their loved ones.
Luke’s Wings started its mission in 2008 and is still going strong today. It all started with assisting patients at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on their travels back and forth to see their families and friends back home. Since then, it has expanded from operating 19 flights per year to operating more than a dozen flights every day. Over the course of the year, they’ve covered more than 12,000 flights for children.
As co-founder Fletcher Gill explained, “we’re talking about things like reconnecting kids with their parents who are veterans or service members and assisting folks through their hospital rehabilitations. The organization’s current focus is on delivering more than 2,000 flight tickets this year, and they have already reached half of their goal.
Michael was deployed in the Middle East where he was injured on a mission. His wife gave up her job to be with him in the hospital. Luke’s Wings provided flights for Michael to travel, receive treatment, and reunite with his son. #LukesWings #12FamiliesofChristmas pic.twitter.com/JB2ndaWoRg
— Luke's Wings (@LukesWingsUSA) December 24, 2021
Luke’s Wings official website states:
Luke’s Wings was founded in 2008 after learning that the government only provides a very limited number of flights for loved ones to be bedside after a service member is injured. This is where Luke’s Wings steps in to fill the gap for the months and years ahead.
Families are completely on their own to travel back and forth between their everyday lives and their new reality. Luke’s Wings provides complimentary airfare to wounded, ill, and injured service members, veterans, fallen officers, and their loved ones keeping these families connected during recovery and rehabilitation. These flights bring mental, physical, emotional, and financial support, empowering wounded service members to overcome challenges they face every step of the way.
Luke Wing has testimony after testimony of families being reunited due to their efforts. One testimony involved a U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Leonard Adams who was stationed in Iraq and an Iranian missile attacked the Al Asad Airbase where he was stationed. Adams was 50 feet away from where the missile hit, and unfortunately suffered multiple injuries, including a serious traumatic brain injury, as a result. Following the incident, he was sent to Blanchfield Army Community Hospital at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he was treated and released.
After his medical evacuation, Luke’s Wings had the honor of transporting Sgt. Adams’ wife and 11-month-old daughter to be by his side in the hospital.
Sgt. Adams was quoted saying:
“I just wanted to extend a very sincere thank you for the help you have given both my wife and my family following my injury in Iraq. The flights you and your service have provided definitely eased some of the financial burden and worry we have endured, and we are very grateful. I cannot thank you enough.” Leonard and his family have a long road ahead of them, but we have been told that “it was clear that they are stronger when they are together.”
If you would like to make a contribution to Luke Wing’s you can check out their website: Luke Wing’s
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