Donated airline miles help wounded troops

You could trade in those airline frequent flier miles you've been collecting for the latest exercise gizmo to help shed those holiday pounds you've resolved to lose as the calendar clicks to 2007 - but better yet, help reunite wounded U.S. service members in Iraq and Afghanistan with their families instead.
Senator Malcolm A. Smith is encouraging everyone to donate their unused miles to the Hero Miles program. The program, administered by the Fisher House Foundation for the U.S. Department of Defense, provides wounded or injured service members with free tickets to fly home from a military or Veterans Administration hospital, or for their families and close friends to fly to them.
&#8220It helps everybody who puts in a request,” said Hero Miles program manager Pamela Lea-Maida. &#8220It's really a pure sense of giving,” she continued, explaining that donors don't know exactly who they are helping or whether that soldier is in Iraq or Afghanistan-donors only know that they are helping.
As tickets are only permitted for military or Department of Defense civilian employees who have been hospitalized as a result of their service in Iraq, Afghanistan or the surrounding areas and their families, the program helps those who have given the most in service to the country. Tickets cannot be used for any travel unrelated to a medical condition.
Fisher House also provides &#8220comfort homes” to family members of military personnel who are hospitalized for unexpected illness, disease or injury. These homes are usually built within walking distance of major military and VA medical centers and enable family members to be near their loved ones during difficult times at no cost to them.
For more information on the Hero Miles program call the Fisher House Foundation at 888-294-8560 or visit https://www.fisherhouse.org/programs/heroMiles.shtml.