No matter where these families may be in their grieving process, Snowball Express aims to provide a memorable experience where Gold Star families can access support, create new bonds, make positive memories, and build a community with the only people who can truly understand their loss: each other.
The virtual celebration recreates two of the most moving and poignant moments of the in-person event, both of which serve as a tribute to the fallen heroes: the Remembrance Garden and the Walk of Gratitude. This year, the Gary Sinise Foundation created an interactive virtual walk-through of the Remembrance Garden with a flag representing the fallen hero from each of the 2,000+ Gold Star families in the program, providing an opportunity for the families to search and directly find the flag and placard honoring their loved one. The Walk of Gratitude is a ceremony led by Gary Sinise from Los Angeles and Mickey Mouse from the Walt Disney World® Resort in Orlando, Florida, where families write a personal message to their fallen hero on a scroll, and the children then ring bells to send the messages, with the help of a little Disney® magic, to the moms and dads they lost.
In addition to surprise celebrity appearances and family fun such as virtual dance parties and karaoke, the Snowball Express virtual celebration also provides comprehensive and meaningful support to the families including peer-to-peer support groups, counseling services, application support for educational scholarships, financial counseling and assistance, and more.
Snowball Express began in 2006, with a letter written by a fallen soldier to his wife, only to be opened should he perish in battle. While the letter expressed many things, one wish was that they visit Disneyland. From that letter, Snowball Express was created to bring together the children and surviving spouses of fallen U.S. military heroes for a healing retreat.
Snowball Express is made possible by the Gary Sinise Foundation’s generous donors and corporate partners including American Airlines, WoodmenLife, Aerotek, Lowe’s, and many other key partners.