A yearslong partnership that sought to honor World War II veterans by bringing them to the National WWII Museum in New Orleans operated its final charter flight in September.
The program, known as Soaring Valor, flew a group of veterans from Charlotte, North Carolina, to New Orleans on September 5. It was the last of over 30 all-expenses-paid trips that helped more than 1,500 veterans visit the museum—designated by Congress as the nation’s official World War II military history institution—since 2015.
Soaring Valor is a three-way partnership between American Airlines, the Gary Sinise Foundation, and the museum.
“Soaring Valor journeys are about honoring duty, sacrifice, and a legacy of service,” Randy Stillinger, American’s manager of veteran and military programs, said in a statement. “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.”
The Soaring Valor charter flights operated with American Airlines crews, including some who had personal connections, through family members, to World War II.
The program is winding down because many surviving WWII veterans are no longer able to make the journey to New Orleans and many who were have already done so over the past 10 years.
Actor Gary Sinise’s foundation will continue to provide individual trips for World War II veterans and their guardians to visit the museum.
‘Sense of Pride’
Soaring Valor’s final flight began with a gate ceremony at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (KCLT), with the veterans, family members, flight crews, airport officials, musical performers, and active-duty military personnel in attendance. Participants then boarded an American Airlines jet with a special patriotic livery, known as the “Medal of Honor,” for the flight to New Orleans.
![An American Airlines aircraft used for the Soaring Valor flights with the special ‘Medal of Honor’ livery [Courtesy: American Airlines]](https://flyingmag1.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/10/Screenshot-2025-10-01-at-1.52.54-PM-e1759345108938.png?width=545&height=614)
A lively reception at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (KMSY) greeted the veterans on landing. The following day, they were driven to the National WWII Museum, where they toured exhibits dedicated to the war they fought in 80 years ago.
They were also honored in a speech at the museum given by Mary Jean Eisenhower, the granddaughter of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who served as supreme commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe during World War II.
Since 2017, high school students have participated in the Soaring Valor trips. They heard directly from veterans about their experiences during the war, program organizers said, building appreciation for the Greatest Generation’s sacrifices.
“It’s really an unbelievable opportunity for them,” said Tom Gibbs, director of education at the Gary Sinise Foundation. “It’s an educational experience like none other.”
Leaders at the foundation said the Soaring Valor trips have provided a vital lifeline over the years to veterans—many now in their late 90s or early 100s—with few remaining family members and limited opportunities for social connection.
Approximately 66,000 Americans who served in some capacity during WWII are still alive.
“Soaring Valor gave me a sense of pride knowing how much people appreciate the contribution I made to my country,” Bernard Martin, a U.S. Navy veteran, shared with organizers. “It made the sunset of my life a complete success.”
The Gary Sinise Foundation also sponsors a traveling oral historian who collects the memories of World War II veterans across the country for archiving at the National WWII Museum.
