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 Condé 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
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