DFW International Airport Teams With American Airlines On “Wounded Warriors” Mission To Landstuhl Regional Medical Center In Germany

DFW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (September 22, 2004) - In an effort to bring a message of gratitude and support to injured service men and women, DFW International Airport will partner with American Airlines in a goodwill mission to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany to support the "Wounded Warriors" of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Airport will distribute more than 200 "Hats for Heroes" - DFW's 2004 grassroots and employee campaign to honor service men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

The idea for the trip was originated by Teresa Goforth, an international purser flight attendant with American Airlines, who is the Executive Director of U.S. Wounded Soldiers Foundation, a non-profit organization created to purchase quality-of-life items for soldiers wounded or injured in Iraq and Afghanistan and evacuated to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.

The Landstuhl facility is one of the central processing points for injured service members engaged in the Iraq war, and is the largest American hospital outside of the United States. 

For DFW, the trip marks the Airport's long-standing efforts to demonstrate strong support for the men and women fighting overseas. Representatives from DFW will personally deliver "Hats for Heroes" baseball caps, along with other items and clothing. 

"We are very proud to have this opportunity to personally demonstrate DFW's commitment and dedication to our brave men and women who are injured while selflessly serving their country and fighting for freedom," said Jeff Fegan, CEO of DFW Airport. "We thank American Airlines for sharing this experience with us and look forward to sharing some Texas hospitality overseas." 

DFW has played a key role in the U.S. military's Rest and Recuperation (R&R) program for nearly two years, now serving with Atlanta's Jackson-Hartsfield Airport as the two major facilities for the initiative. The Airport also opened a brand new USO on Memorial Day. So far in 2004, DFW has assisted more than 23,000 soldiers and more than 1,500 volunteers have participated in homecoming activities. DFW has also placed its hats - dark blue baseball caps with the DFW logo and inscribed "Hats for Heroes" on the back - on military charters departing for the war zone. American Airlines and other DFW tenants have contributed to the program. 

American Airlines has been a strong supporter of DFW's 'Hats for Heroes' campaign and we could think of no better place for all of us to distribute those hats to our wounded heroes in Germany," said Tim Ahern, Vice President of the DFW Hub for American. "Our airline and DFW make up an airport community that truly cares about our soldiers and their families and we appreciate the U.S. military giving us this opportunity to help." 

The DFW and American Airlines team departed DFW for Frankfurt, Germany on Thursday, September 24, and returned on September 26. In addition to visiting with the troops, the delegation visited the Fisher House, which provides families of wounded soldiers lodging and food during their time of need. 

For more information on the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, and the U.S. Wounded Soldiers Foundation, please click on the following links:

http://www.landstuhl.healthcare.hqusareur.army.mil/clinics/clinics.htm

http://www.uswoundedsoldiers.com/

Editors: To arrange interviews, contact Ken Capps, Vice President, Public Affairs at 972-574-8080 or kcapps@dfwairport.com.