Families fly free to visit wounded GIs: Travelers urged to donate air miles to support program

While listening to the radio a few days ago, Georgina Kaminskyheard an announcement about a program providing flights for militaryfamily members wanting to see their injured soldiers deployedoverseas.

"I was, like, wow," she said. "This has been something my familyhas been looking for. So I called my daughter-in-law and told herabout it."

Less than a week ago, Kaminsky's son Mike Mendoza was severelywounded in Iraq by a grenade blast that damaged his spine, lungs andother internal organs.

The news left family members not only wondering if the 27-year-old Marine sergeant would survive but also how they would be able totravel to Landstuhl, Germany, where Mendoza was being treated.

"We were on pins and needles trying to find out what to do,"Kaminsky said. "We did not have that much money to fly and see him."

Mendoza's wife, Kelly, of Tinley Park, was quick to makearrangements with the help of Operation Hero Miles, a nationalprogram that provides free airline tickets to family members ofwounded military service men and women.

At a Wednesday press conference about the program, Lt. Gov. PatQuinn urged summer travelers to donate unused frequent flier miles tothe cause.

6,000 TICKETS PROVIDED

"August is usually the time when there is a spike in travel, so itis important for people to go out and help out service men and womenwho have given so much to our country," Quinn said.

To date, Operation Hero Miles has provided more than 6,000 round-trip tickets worth more than $7 million.

"For an unplanned trip overseas, it would have cost us $2,000 aperson for me and the rest of the family to fly there and see him,"Kelly Mendoza said.

Allyson Morrissey, of Woodstock, was able to travel to FortGordon, Ga., to see her father, Tom, who was injured in Afghanistantwo months ago. "It truly has taken so much unwanted stress off ourminds," Morrissey said.

A law signed in 2004 by President Bush authorizes the Pentagon toaccept the miles, with the carriers' consent. Since then, 540 millionmiles have been donated.

For information on donating, see www.heromiles.org.

kmarshall@suntimes.com