Cardin, Ruppersberger to Celebrate “Hero Miles” Milestone, Announce Major Expansion of Program

Program provides free airline tickets to U.S. troops and their families

On Monday, October 31, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) and U.S. Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) will celebrate a monumental “Hero Miles” milestone and announce a major expansion of the program that will benefit even more military families who must travel to visit loved ones. “Hero Miles” provides free round-trip airfare to military members recovering at military or VA medical centers as a result of injuries sustained in overseas conflicts. Hero Miles also enables family and friends to visit injured troops while they are being treated.

Flights are made possible through frequent flyer mile donations made by individual airline passengers. Senator Cardin and Congressman Ruppersberger will announce a major expansion of the program to help military families with additional travel expenses.

The original “Hero Miles” program was the brainchild of Congressman Ruppersberger in 2003. It is now administered by the Fisher House, a nonprofit best known for its network of comfort homes built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers.

Who: Senator Ben Cardin
Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger
David Coker, President, Fisher House

What: Senator Cardin and Congressman Ruppersberger to Celebrate “Hero Miles” Milestone, Announce Major Program Expansion to help military families with travel expenses

When: 2:30 p.m., Monday, October 31, 2011

Where: BWI Airport Observation Gallery
Aviation Boulevard & Elm Road
Baltimore, MD 21240

The Observation Gallery is on the upper level, in the pre-security area between Concourses B and C.