LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — More than 700 families of fallen military heroes gathered at Walt Disney World on Tuesday.
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Loved ones were hosted by the Gary Sinise Foundation for the annual Snowball Express Healing Retreat.
American flags, each marked with the name of a fallen hero, were part of a Remembrance Garden at Coronado Springs Resort at Walt Disney World.
More than 1,700 family members came to this location this week to honor their military loved ones who made the ultimate sacrifice.
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“I saw the difference that can be made when you just show up,” Gary Sinise, award-winning actor and Founder of the Gary Sinise Foundation, said. “I started showing up and wanted to do it again and again and again.”
It’s all part of the foundation’s annual Snowball Express Healing Retreat.
The five-day experience is a chance for families to spend time together and honor their fallen hero, all while connecting with other attendees.
“Unfortunately, we have a lot of families who have gone through the same thing, difficult stuff,” Sinise said. “We just want to wrap our arms around them and show them we love them.”
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A love that is especially shown to the kids left behind.
“You can see what it is to bring so many children together who have all lost a parent and the healing that happens when they meet other kids, and they see they’re not alone going through the loss they’ve suffered, in service to our country,” Sinise said.
Sinise himself made way through the Remembrance Garden Tuesday. He kneeled down at some points to read letters or mementos left at the base of flags. A promise to keep showing up year after year.
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“It’s overwhelming the amount of sacrifice that’s been made to keep us free in this country,” Sinise said. “This is our way of honoring them and giving them a place to reflect and remember.”
Next week, the Gary Sinise Foundation will do it all again by hosting the families of fallen first responders.
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