December 10, 2012

WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) today visited the Fisher House at the Charlie Norwood Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Augusta. During the visit, Congressman Barrow officially donated over 79,000 frequent flyer miles that he accrued from Congressional travel to the Fisher House's "Hero Miles Program," which provides free airline tickets to wounded, injured and ill American soldiers and their families.

"We owe a tremendous debt to the men and women of our military," said Congressman Barrow. "As a token of my thanks, I'm proud to donate the miles I've received for Congressional travel to help American soldiers and their families. Air travel is part of my job, and I can think of no better way to use these miles. Rather than keeping miles for personal use, I urge my colleagues from Georgia and the surrounding communities to join me in making similar donation so that our wounded troops and their families do not have to bear expensive travel costs this holiday season."

"Our VA Medical Centers provide ongoing, essential care for veterans from every conflict and every line of service," said Mr. Kenneth Fisher, CEO of Fisher House Foundation. "Our Fisher Houses work in concert with the VA to provide the care and comfort our military families are entitled to, we also support our troops with Hero Miles airline tickets. We are grateful for Representative Barrow's personal commitment to our nation's veterans through his donation of Hero Miles."

Each year, Congressman Barrow chooses a charity to donate his frequent flyer miles. In 2011, he donated over 68,000 miles to the Fisher House and the Children's Miracle Network.

The Fisher House provides free air travel for troops from a medical center to their home or authorized event if they are not eligible for government travel. In addition, the organization will provide free air travel to allow family members to visit service men and women who are being treated at a medical facility. The Fisher House has two locations in the 12th District, the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Fort Gordon. For more information on the Fisher House, please click here.

Congressman Barrow spoke on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives about the need for his colleagues to join him in donating miles they accrue through Congressional travel.

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