Wicker Co-Sponsors 'Hotels for Heroes' to Help Wounded Troops and Families Be Together

November 9, 2011

Washington, DC – Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) recently joined Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) to introduce the “Hotels for Heroes” program, S. 1776, which would allow Americans to donate hotel reward points for families of wounded service members.

“Families of wounded service men and women often face difficulty trying to be with their loved ones,” said Senator Wicker, a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.  “As Veterans Day approaches, this is a way to help and honor those who have given of themselves to protect the freedoms we hold dear.”

In 2004, Congress created the “Operation Hero Miles” program allowing individuals to donate airline miles for military families to visit injured loved ones.  The program is administered by the Fisher House, a non-profit organization that opens its homes to military families visiting their injured loved ones at hospitals across the country.  “Hotels for Heroes” would include the donation of hotel reward points toward travel for military families as part of the “Hero Miles” program. 

For more information or to learn more about how to help visit fisherhouse.org/programs/hero-miles.

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