Photo By 1st Sgt. Jessica Barnett | Gov. Sam Brownback greets Santa Claus on the “Holiday Express” train as they make...... read more read more
TOPEKA, Kan. -- More than 230 Kansas National Guard members and their families rode in a holiday-themed vintage passenger train known as the “Holiday Express” that departed from the Amtrak depot in Topeka, Kan., Dec. 9, 2011.
As a tribute to men and women of the armed forces, BNSF Railway offered a “Holiday Express” train ride to military members and their families to show their appreciation for their service and sacrifices. This year, the train toured six states including the Dakotas, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
The vintage passenger train took members of the military and their families for a 90-minute train ride. During the ride, refreshments were served and children had a chance to visit with Santa, who handed out a special Holiday Express ornament.
“We recognize the sacrifice and service that the men and women in uniform make,” said Andrew Johnsen, assistant vice president, State Government Affairs for BNSF. “But we also recognized that, sadly, the families of those men and women that are in service wearing the uniform overseas make a tremendous sacrifice and, unfortunately, their sacrifices are all too often overlooked. So, this is a way for our railroad to acknowledge the sacrifices those families make, to hold our heads high and proud to say ‘Thank you’ to the troops.”
Special guests on the train also included Gov. Sam Brownback and Brig. Gen. Eric Peck, commander of the Kansas Army National Guard and commander of the Great Plains Joint Training Center, who visited with the service members and their families.
Following the return, Janelle Hood, president of the Kansas National Guard Foundation, accepted a check from BNSF for $10,000 to the nonprofit foundation. The foundation’s mission is to enhance programs to support, educate and train Kansas National Guard military families and Kansas youth from urban and rural communities in areas of the Kansas National Guard mission, deployment, leadership, teamwork and good citizenship.
“We appreciate the many years of support from BNSF,” said Maj. Gen. Lee Tafanelli, adjutant general of the Kansas National Guard. “The $10,000 donation will go toward programs to assist our Guardsmen and their families, and the train ride will be a very special treat for everyone able to participate. Thank you to BNSF for going the extra mile this holiday for our troops and families.”
(Kansas Adjutant General's Department Public Affairs Office contributed to this story)
| Date Taken: | 01.08.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 01.27.2012 15:47 |
| Story ID: | 82952 |
| Location: | TOPEKA, KS, US |
| Web Views: | 49 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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