giovedì 16 aprile 2009

Aviation Community to Team Up with Wounded Veterans Participating in the Boston Marathon

Aviation Community to Team Up with Wounded Veterans Participating in the Boston Marathon

BOSTON, April 16 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 20th, six wounded veteran amputees, recently returned from Iraq and Afghanistan, will participate in the Boston Marathon as members of the Achilles Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans. This year, Achilles International has teamed up with the business aviation community who will help facilitate this special event in their ongoing effort to give back to the community.

On Saturday, April 18th, the athletes, along with their companions and physical therapists, will be transported via private jet from Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, DC to Boston by volunteers from the Veterans Airlift Command. The Veterans Airlift Command provides free air transportation to wounded warriors, veterans and their families for medical and other compassionate purposes through a national network of volunteer aircraft owners and pilots. The same volunteer pilots will fly the athletes back to Washington, DC following the marathon.

Both the athletes and the volunteer pilots and crew (from Peregrine Jet) will be available to speak to the media upon their arrival at Logan International Airport to discuss this event.

Who: Peregrine Jet Crew
Captain James Petosa
Captain Francisco Garzon
CSA Terri Campbell
AMT Kevin Robbins

Veterans Running the Boston Marathon

Ryan Major of Towson, MD was critically injured in Iraq,
losing both legs along with fingers on both hands.

Sgt Army Matt Penland, is a double amputee, having survived
an IED explosion in Iraq in October 2006

Staff Sergeant John W. Walding, United States (US) Army,
lost his lower right leg by sniper fire in Afghanistan.

Where: Signature Flight Support
Boston Logan International Airport
240 Prescott Street
East Boston, Massachusetts 02128
Phone: 617.561.2500

When: 1 PM
Saturday, April 18th

About the General Aviation Manufacturer's Association


GAMA represents 66 of the world's leading manufacturers of fixed-wing general aviation airplanes, engines, avionics, and components

About the Veterans Airlift Command:

Since its inception in 2006, Veterans Airlift Command (VAC) pilot volunteers have carried over 1200 passengers and flown more than 670,000 miles.

About Achilles International:

Achilles International was founded in 1983 and its mission is to provide opportunities for people with disabilities to compete in mainstream athletic events with a focus on distance running.




Source: General Aviation Manufacturer?s Association


CONTACT: Katie Pribyl of the General Aviation Manufacturer's Association , +1-202-393-1500, or (C), +1-703-869-4563, KPribyl@gama.aero; or Suzanne Morse for the General Aviation Manufacturer's Association, +1-617-646-1020, or (C), +1-508-259-9354, smorse@oneillandassoc.com

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