Local families of fallen soldiers participate in the Snowball Express Disney retreat

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW)- Clarksville and Ft. Campbell families will participate in a fun-filled therapeutic retreat to Disneyworld as part of the  Gary Sinise Foundation Snowball Express.

On December 7, 2019, the Gary Sinise Foundation Snowball Express (GSF SBE) service started their five-day experience for more than 1,700 family members of fallen military-heroes, focusing on their children and the surviving parent or guardian. This therapeutic retreat offers fun and inspiring programs, encouraging critical peer-to-peer support for these families.

The holidays can be especially challenging for grieving families of fallen military heroes and Snowball Express aims to provide a memorable experience where they can access support, create new bonds, make positive memories, and build a community with the only people who can truly understand their loss: each o support for educational scholarships, education and access to medical and government benefits, financial counseling and assistance, mentoring, and aid for those with special needs or disabilities. GSF SBE will offer a variety of activities and entertainment, including a concert from Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band.

This trip is made possible by the Foundation’s generous donors, its official airlines partner American Airlines, and its corporate partners: Owens Corning, ATD, Aerotek, WoodmenLife, and Highland Capital Management.

Families will travel via 13 donated American Airlines charter flights with all-volunteer crews making stops in 22 cities across the country with dozens more traveling from around the world, including Guam, London, and Germany among others.

Snowball Express began in 2006, with a letter written by a fallen Soldier to his wife, only to be opened should he perish 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.

The official airline partner American Airlines and the Gary Sinise Foundation will unite these families in a way that honors that initial letter from the fallen Soldier – at Disney World®.

In addition, families will have direct access to complementary resources such as counseling services, applications across the country with dozens more traveling from around the world, including Guam, London, and Germany among others.

According to Gary Sinise Foundation officials, families from Clarksville and the surrounding area were apart of this special program.