Operation Once in a Lifetime is preparing to take 50 Veterans and Active Duty Military to Arlington National Cemetery this Memorial Day Weekend to honor those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice on our 7th Annual Closure Trip. This year’s trip will be in honor of 1st Lieutenant John Peter “Junior/ Animal” Skoro Jr., whose family sponsored over half of this year’s attendees!
Want to learn how to help sponsor a Veteran to visit Arlington National Cemetery for the very first time and pay the respects to their fallen brothers and sisters? Please e-mail Staff@operationonceinalifetime.com.
Two months ago the 36th Sustainment Brigade reached out to us to see if we could help assist with their Casing/Deployment Ceremony as their ceremony was originally scheduled for January 15, 2022 (deploying for 10 months to Middle East). It was going to be outside, but they were needing assistance with a possible inside venue especially with it being winter — you just never know how the weather would be. On the day of the ceremony, it was 33 degrees with 30 mile an hour winds and snow.
With the help of Operation Once In A Lifetime, as well as our supporters such as Jose Trevino (Catcher) & Texas Rangers, IICF, AUSA North Texas – Audie Murphy Chapter, Homes by J. Anthony, Bell Helicopters and the individual contributions we received, we were not only able to have their ceremony at Globe Life Field (home of the Texas Rangers) but provide dinner for all the soldiers and their families totaling 1000, including 250 care packages also provided by IICF!!
It was truly a memorable once in a lifetime send off, especially with special guest Medal of Honor Recipient David Bellavia! Keep these soldiers and their families in your prayers.
Also, thank you to our 15+ volunteers that came out that day as well. We can not do it without you!
Support our military during the holidays through our annual Toys For Troops drive. Donate a new unwrapped toy at our various locations (email us for locations) or you can contribute directly to our Toys For Troops Drive on our Current Needs tab.
Teaming Up:
Texas Rangers Catcher Jose Trevino teamed up with Operation Once in a Lifetime to help support our annual Toys For Troops Drive. Operation Once in a Lifetime was also surprised by General Funk and awarded a Certificate of Appreciation and Coin for the outstanding work supporting our military.
Home for the holidays:
Operation Once in a Lifetime has teamed up with Boston’s Pizza to help fly our military home for the holidays as they donated 10% of all their sales on Veterans Day to Operation Once in a Lifetime.
(Pictured here is SSG Evan Kells who is currently deployed to Lithuania, whose wife is due around Thanksgiving. Operation Once in a Lifetime was able to provide SSG Kells a flight home for the birth of his child.)
Operation Once in a Lifetime flew home PFC Thorpe from Poland to be there for the birth of his son.
