Children of fallen servicemembers have chance for free Disneyland trip

  • Published
  • By Samantha Quigley
  • American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  Children of servicemembers killed since Sept. 11 have until Nov. 15 to try to get on board the Snowball Express -- destination Disneyland, with a couple of fun stops along the way. 

The M. Scott Kerr Foundation is sponsoring the Snowball Express in conjunction with Rotary Clubs of Costa Mesa, Calif., and other major contributors. He set up the foundation to help alleviate any disparity between military benefits and the actual costs of day-to-day living, said Michael Kerr, founder of Snowball Express.

Designed to let the children know their sacrifices aren't forgotten, the Dec. 15-17 event is free to participants. "They don't pay one penny," Mr. Kerr said. "They've already paid everything they need to pay to this country."

"They did not have to die in combat," Mr. Kerr said. "Any death either prior to deployment, or not, qualifies them to be included. They could have died stateside, overseas, training mission or likewise."

If the service member was killed in a car accident, it must have been in a military vehicle or in some other vehicle while deployed and on duty. Alcohol or drugs must not have been a factor, he said.

This holiday even for about 1,000 military children and their guardians is not full yet. So far, about 200 families are registered with 350 children. We have room for 500 families and 1,000 children so please spread the word," Mr. Kerr said.

"We're trying to get everybody registered by Nov. 15," he said. 

When the group arrives in Orange County, Calif., they'll be treated to dinner and a viewing of "The Glory of Christmas," Kerr said. The non-denominational production will take place at the Crystal Cathedral, home base for an international ministry.

"The next day, ... they'll be at the Oakley Corporation world headquarters," Mr. Kerr said.
There, they'll get to talk to X-Games athletes, NASCAR and National Hot Rod Association drivers and entertainers participating in the event. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger also is scheduled to attend, Mr. Kerr said.

"They will be given an enormous amount of gifts at this event, too" he said.

Those items will be combined with what's donated to Snowball Express through toy drives, Mr. Kerr said. These gifts will be shipped directly to the children's homes. 

That goes for anything they buy that evening at the Irvine Spectrum Center, a high-end shopping center, as well. The kids will receive gift cards to use at the retailers, many of which are offering the children a 50 percent discount, he said. For those who'd rather play than shop, the center's ice rink will be open only to those with the Snowball Express.

"On Sunday, they go to Disneyland," Mr. Kerr said.

The next morning it's time to re-board the Snowball Express and head for home to relive all the memories and await the delivery of all their goodies, he said.

The Snowball Express was created by Mr. Kerr in Phoenix in 1997 to put a little holiday cheer into the lives of homeless and at-risk children. The events of Sept. 11 had curtailed the program. 

"When I came ... out here to Orange County (Calif.) to actually marry my high school sweetheart, we were driving down one day by Camp Pendleton," he said. "I was telling her that I wanted to bring this event to Orange County, but I didn't really know what groups I could reach out to."

As it turned out, the answer was right in front of them.

"She pointed over at the base, and she said, 'I bet you could find a few kids over there,'" he said. "It snowballed from there, no pun intended."