10-26-2011
06:30 PM
458 Loves
How often have you heard that phrase? I’m sure every generation has said it at one point, but then the kids prove us wrong—like in the program, Do the Write Thing Challenge. Southwest Airlines is a national sponsor of this program and provides passes for the ambassadors and their families. This initiative brings together community, business, and governmental leaders to help reduce youth violence in communities across the United States. The mission of the Do the Write Thing Challenge is to provide middle school students with the opportunity to examine the impact of youth violence on their lives. Through classroom discussions and writings, students communicate what they think should be done to reduce youth violence. In addition, the students make personal commitments to do something about this problem. In fact, more than 60,000 of these students chose to accept the challenge by submitting writings to their local Do the Write Thing committee and by initiating violence reduction efforts or volunteering in existing ones. More than one million students have participated in the Challenge since its inception. In July of this year, two national ambassadors from each participating jurisdiction were honored at a national recognition ceremony in Washington, D.C. Christina and Jacob's families at the ceremony in Washington, D.C. I had the privilege of meeting student Christina and her family at the ticket counter in West Palm Beach in July. I soon learned that she and her fellow student Jacob were two of 56 students from all over the country chosen as ambassadors for the Do the Write Thing Challenge. I was so proud to learn that there were two students representing Palm Beach County, Florida. Christina attends sixth grade at Palm Springs Community Middle School in Palm Springs, and Jacob is in the eighth grade at Bak Middle School of the Arts in West Palm Beach. It wasn’t until after they returned from Washington D.C. that I was able to read their essays. Christina and Jacob have made it a goal to help others as they were both affected. Christina writes, “My suggestion would be to help and counsel kids with bad home lives and low self-esteem and jealousy issues, but some of it has to come from us as individuals by treating each other with kindness, fairness, and equality.” Christina and her mother, Johanna Gambale Jacob feels strongly that, “It is our responsibility to aid those in need, and to try to snuff out the causes of bullying at their source, as well as working to improve their lives.” Jacob and his mother, Paula Wesson What an honor it is to know that “kids these days” have already figured out that, “If we all gave even one ounce of kindness, generosity, and respect, we would have an ocean of peace.” Way to go, Christina and Jacob!
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05-17-2011
05:05 PM
491 Loves
I first met Customer Mary at the baggage carousel as she anxiously waited for her daughter, Susan, to pick her up. It took a little time, so I waited with her and discovered that Mary had come to West Palm Beach to celebrate her upcoming 90 th birthday! She definitely doesn’t look her age! Mary also shared the fact that the Flight Attendants had been great on the flight. The next little “tidbit” she told me was that she was one of the original Pan American Airways Stewardesses waaay back in 1946! She had started as an Executive Secretary at their headquarters in New York and decided to “go for it” and became a Stewardess. She traveled in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and met her future husband, Dean, who was a Captain with Pan American. After two years, they were married, so Mary’s career ended—you couldn’t be married as a Stewardess in those days. I was so in awe of all that she told me. In typical Southwest fashion, I decided that Mary should have a Southwest celebration! After getting the OK from our Station Manager, Rosa, I planned a surprise for Mary’s return trip. Mary was going to be an Honorary Southwest Flight Attendant for the day! The day arrived, and as I presented Mary with her official certificate and “pinned” on her plastic wings, she was given a big round of applause from everyone at the gates. I then gave her a peanut wreath, Southwest gifts, balloons, and a ceramic cupcake with a birthday card attached. Everyone joined in singing Happy Birthday to Mary. Mary was very surprised and a little bit flabbergasted, but she loved every minute of it. It was definitely a day to remember for her! This year we are celebrating our 40 th year of giving Customers the Freedom to Fly. So, as we near that Company milestone of celebrating our Legendary Customer Service and Culture through the decades, you must remember—it’s all about celebrations!
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12-20-2010
04:35 PM
195 Loves
How many times have you seen a Veteran--whether it’s at work or just out and about? The one thing that just "makes their day" is to say “thank you for your service.” My husband, Pat, and I recently had the experience of being Guardians for Veterans on a Southeast Florida Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. We both felt it could be our way of saying "thank you" to those who had selflessly served our country during World War II. As an Employee for Southwest Airlines, volunteering for an Honor Flight was near and dear to my heart. I knew that Southwest is a corporate sponsor for the Honor Flight Network, and some tickets had been donated towards this particular flight. My Dad was a proud Veteran of World War II, so I grew up with a great love of country and Veterans. But nothing could have ever prepared me for this trip to the WWII Memorial and Iwo Jima Memorial. From the start of the trip with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office motorcycle escort and the U.S. Military Vets Motorcycle Club stopping traffic and escorting us all the way to the airport, to the Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Pipes and Drum, plus their Honor Guard, as well as the TSA Honor Guard at the airport, it was amazing. At the boarding gates were The Women Of Note, an a cappella group volunteering their time to sing all types of patriotic songs. Everyone was saying “thank you” in their own way to the veterans. After a thrilling water cannon salute send-off and a similar arrival salute in Baltimore/Washington, our group of 134 could not have been more surprised at what came next. As we exited the jebridge, and lined up on both sides were military personnel, Honor Flight volunteers, Southwest Employees, and Passengers, and the line continued on and on out into the concourse. They were ALL applauding and kept applauding and were shaking the hands and thanking all the Veterans. They didn’t stop until the very last person came through that line! There were tears in the eyes of every Veteran and every Guardian on that flight! Each photo with the Veterans, each pause to gaze at the Memorials, each story that we were told that day made us appreciate all the Veterans that have ever served this country. It was a great honor and an experience of a lifetime for both of us. When the trip officially ended, we said our "so-longs" but not our good-byes. We’re all going to keep in touch and without exception, always keep saying “thank you” to the Veterans.
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