Soaring Valor takes its final flight after a decade of honoring World War II veterans

A WWII veteran heads to the departure gate at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) for the final Soaring Valor flight.

FORT WORTH, Texas - Soaring Valor, a decade-long partnership between American Airlines, the Gary Sinise Foundation and the National WWII Museum, took its final flight on Sept. 5, 2025, out of Charlotte, North Carolina, marking the end of an era. Since 2015, the program has honored more than 1,500 World War II veterans with more than 30 charter flights to New Orleans, offering them a hero's sendoff and the chance to see their stories preserved at the museum. Each journey paired veterans with local high school students, creating powerful intergenerational connections and ensuring their sacrifices are remembered.

"Soaring Valor journeys are about honoring duty, sacrifice and a legacy of service," said Randy Stillinger, American's Manager of Veteran and Military Programs. "On each flight, generations came together in a moment that bridged past, present and future. These stories will continue to echo through history long after the final flight has landed."

Each flight has carried stories, memories and the gratitude of a nation. The impact of these veterans and these missions will continue to inspire long after the final flight. Soaring Valor was made possible not only through the collaboration of our partners, but also through the dedication of American's team members. Crew members proudly volunteered to support these special trips, and teams on the ground turned every sendoff and arrival into a powerful tribute filled with pride, appreciation and celebration. Many team members have special ties to World War II. Among them are flight attendants Robin Agee and Kristen White, whose father and grandfather, James Agee, served during the war. Robin and Kristen have supported Soaring Valor charters over the years, and their family's connection is a powerful reminder of how Soaring Valor has united generations.

"The charter trips have made a tremendous impact on the lives of all who were privileged to be part," said Gary Sinise, founder, chairman and president of the Gary Sinise Foundation. "It is with great appreciation that I send my heartfelt thanks to all our partners at American Airlines for all you have done to bring joy to so many of our nations heroes and students over the years."

To further drive this point home, Gary took the time to personally recognize American's role in bringing the program to life with a heartfelt note shared with team members, praising their extraordinary compassion, noting how their efforts transformed each flight into a moving tribute of honor and remembrance.

As the Soaring Valor program closes its final chapter, American remains committed to honoring veterans and service members through purposeful initiatives through its partnership with the Gary Sinise Foundation.

About American Airlines Group
As a leading global airline, American Airlines offers thousands of flights per day to more than 350 destinations in more than 60 countries. The airline is a founding member of the oneworld alliance, whose members serve more than 900 destinations around the globe. Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL. Learn more about what's happening at American by visiting news.aa.com and connect with American @AmericanAir and at Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines. To Care for People on Life's Journey®.

About the Gary Sinise FoundationGary Sinise is an award-winning actor and humanitarian, best known for his roles in CSI: NY, Apollo 13, and his Oscar-nominated performance in the film Forrest Gump as the wounded Vietnam veteran Lt. Dan Taylor. An advocate for our nation's defenders since the 1980s, after 9/11 Sinise began a tireless crusade to support America's military and first responders around the world with handshake tours and concerts with his band, the Lt. Dan Band. In 2011, he established the Gary Sinise Foundation as an extension of those efforts. Today, the Foundation is building custom homes for severely wounded heroes, honoring and supporting the families of our fallen, providing essential equipment and training for first responders, improving the mental wellness of our defenders, and so much more. For more information and to support, visit https://www.garysinisefoundation.org.

The National WWII Museum tells the story of the American experience in the war that changed the world-why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today-so that future generations will know the price of freedom and be inspired by what they learn. Dedicated in 2000 as The National D-Day Museum and now designated by Congress as America's National WWII Museum, it celebrates the American spirit, the teamwork, optimism, courage and sacrifices of the men and women who fought on the battlefront and served on the Home Front. The 2018 TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards ranks the Museum No. 3 in the nation and No. 8 in the world. For more information, call 877-813-3329 or 504-528-1944 or visit nationalww2museum.org.