Southwest Airlines Gives Back To The Brave Who Safeguard Our Country With Third Annual Military Heroes Month In November

DALLAS, Nov. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --  Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) is demonstrating how deep patriotism runs in the Company and Employees' hearts with its third annual month-long celebration dubbed "Military Heroes Month." To show support for Veterans, service members, and their families across the nation, Southwest will host an array of activities with nonprofit organizations focused on those who sacrifice so much. To read a blog post about Military Heroes Month, visit the NUTS About Southwest blog.

"With nearly 5,800 Employees currently serving in the National Guard and Reserves and our Employee Veterans at Southwest Airlines, we are proud to support men and women in uniform all year long and recognize our nation's heroes," said Mike Van de Ven, Chief Operating Officer at Southwest Airlines. "It's important for us to give back to our service men and women and their families, and Military Heroes Month is an opportunity for us to demonstrate our appreciation and honor to those who fight for our Freedoms."

Southwest says thank you during Military Heroes Month:

Nov. 1 | Armed Forces Foundation "Busch-Whacked" Event, Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track, Fort Worth, Texas Southwest will join the Armed Forces Foundation and supply volunteers at the "Busch-Whacked" mud run event at Texas Motor Speedway's Dirt Track to raise money for military families.

Nov. 5 | Military Appreciation Luncheon, Jacksonville, Fla. Southwest is supporting the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce's Military Appreciation Luncheon to honor military for their outstanding commitment to the country. It's a way Southwest can show gratitude for the area's active duty and retired men and women of the U.S Armed Forces. Southwest will host 200 military personnel and their spouses. 

Nov. 5-9 | Operation Caring Classroom/Armed Forces Foundation, NationwideSenior Chief Pilot and former Top Gun Pilot Terry Gleason is featured in the Armed Forces Foundation classroom video themed, "Military Transitioning to Civilian Life," which will be incorporated into elementary school curriculum in military connected communities in all 50 states reaching more than 100 classrooms nationwide.

Nov. 7 -8 | Continuing the Legacy in Aviation, Dallas, Texas Southwest Airlines will host its fifth annual "Continuing the Legacy in Aviation" program where students and their chaperones tour a number of Southwest Airlines' facilities where students can learn about the airline's operation. The students also have the opportunity to interact with and learn from the amazing experiences of the National Tuskegee Airmen.

Nov. 9-11 | A Million Thanks, We LUV Our Troops Customer Card Campaign, NationwideIn honor of Veterans Day, Southwest is distributing Support Our Troops cards and patriotic heart decor to all Inflight bases for Flight Attendants to share with Customers and give them the opportunity to say thanks as they travel to their destination. These cards will be sent to the nonprofit organization, "A Million Thanks," who will distribute them to Troops serving across the world.

Nov. 9 -12 | Operation Freedom Bird, Welcome Home Celebration, Washington, D.C. This year marks the 25 ^th anniversary of Operation Freedom Bird (OFB), which provides a unique healing journey to Arizona's combat Veterans of all wars. Approximately 50 Veterans have been selected to participate in a four-day healing journey on Veterans Day and visit the War Memorials in Washington, D.C.  Southwest Airlines has supported OFB with travel and a celebration of their return home for more than a decade.

Nov. 11 | Veterans Day Parade, New York City Southwest Airlines is honoring nine Navajo Code Talkers for their heroic work during World War II by providing complimentary travel to attend the New York City Veterans Day Parade.

Nov. 12 | Veterans Day Parade, Dallas, Texas Southwest Airlines is sponsoring and volunteering at the Dallas Veterans Day Parade to celebrate those who safeguard our country and say thank you to those who served or are serving.

Nov. 14-15 | Veterans Day Tour with the Texas Rangers Baseball Club, Washington, D.C. Southwest Airlines and the Texas Rangers Baseball Club will take recent Military Veterans and their families to Washington, D.C., for a Veterans Day tour.

November | Honor Flight Network, NationwideFor the past four years, Southwest Airlines has been lucky enough to be a part of making Veterans' dreams come true as the official commercial airline of the Honor Flight network and to date has connected more than 4,500 World War II Veterans with their memorial in Washington, D.C. This year, Southwest Airlines renewed its support of Honor Flight travel over the next three years.

Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways are committed to giving back to the communities in which the carrier's Employees work and live. In 2011, Southwest Employees volunteered more than 114,000 hours, which is enough time to fly from Baltimore/Washington to Los Angeles 24,516 times.

ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.In its 42 ^nd year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other low-fare carriers by providing a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service.  Including wholly owned subsidiary AirTran Airways, the Company now employs 46,000 People and serves 97 destinations in 41 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, six near-international countries.

Visit southwest.com/citizenship to read the Southwest Airlines One Report™ and see how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen while underscoring a commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet, distinguishing itself in support of men and women in uniform. The airline has been recognized numerous times by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) for its commitment and support of the airline's Employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve; been named a Top Military Employer by GI Jobs Magazine; and received recognition for naming the month of November as "Military Heroes Month" and celebrating its partnerships with nonprofits focused on active duty military, Veterans, and families of military members.

Southwest AirlinesSouthwest Airlines, one of the most honored airlines in the world, is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded. With the addition of Des Moines (DSM), Southwest will operate more than 3,200 flights a day and serve the communities around 77 airports in Southwest's network of domestic destinations. To book a flight, visit southwest.com .

AirTran AirwaysAirTran Airways, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines Co., has been ranked the top airline in the Airline Quality Rating study three times in the past five years. AirTran offers coast-to-coast and near-international service with nearly 600 flights a day on North America's newest all-Boeing fleet. The airline's low-cost, high-quality product also includes assigned seating and Business Class. To book a flight, visit airtran.com.

www.southwest.com

SOURCE Southwest Airlines

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