The holiday season is a time for sharing with family and friends. But, it's also a time for sharing with those in need. Whether it's food, winter clothing, or money, many Americans choose this season for giving to others. Others choose to give something we all feel is in short supply: time. And on Saturday, I was privileged to see the work of generous volunteers who devote their time, energy, and creativity every year to the United Airlines Fantasy Flight.
With the Fantasy Flight, which began 20 years ago at the Washington area's Dulles International Airport, participants in the United Employee Volunteer Program help bring a little holiday magic to seriously ill boys and girls from Children's Hospice International.
The children and their families boarded a Boeing 777 from gate D-7 and took off for the brief flight to Santa's workshop. The "workshop"--an entire wing of the terminal--was completely decked out in holiday decorations and featured a host of volunteers in costume, carolers from a local high school, firefighters, fairy tale princesses, members of the military, local sports mascots, lots of elves, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
The boys and girls joined in different activities and ate delicious treats (President Obama insisted I bring M&Ms from the White House), but all of the hubbub of the workshop was nothing compared with the kids' wide-eyed excitement when the real guest of honor, Santa Claus, arrived.
The first Fantasy Flight occurred in London in 1991, when United Airlines donated a 727 to fly one hundred children from an orphanage to Lapland, Finland, for reindeer sleigh rides and a visit to “Father Christmas Village”. The success of that first flight led the airline to gradually expand to more than forty six cities, providing children around the world with the experience of a lifetime.
It was a pleasure to meet the boys and girls of Children's Hospice International at this year's Fantasy Flight. And it warmed my heart tremendously to see the holiday cheer all of the volunteers brought to those brave kids.
This was the best time 4 me and my kids we had lots of fun everyone was so nice and wonderful we get to see the rain deer's and Santa wow how cool is that this was my first time on a plane me and my kids so I thank every one who help to get this wonderful Christmas party going thank you ms stokes p.s and the north pole was out of this world :-)
Posted by: lenora stokes | December 13, 2012 at 02:01 PM