We are taking 50 Veterans, who have never been before, to Arlington National Cemetery this May to visit their fallen brothers and sisters who paid the ULTIMATE SACRIFICE!

Operation Once in a Lifetime started our newest program last year which we named our “Closure Program”. We kicked off this initiative by taking SSG Kody Garnhart to Arlington National Cemetery to visit his best friend who was killed while they were deployed together.

What most people don’t realize is when you lose a Battle Buddy, the body is sent back home, the funeral is back home and the burial is back home, but you are still deployed. Thousands of Veterans and and Active Duty Service Members have lost Brothers & Sisters in Arms and have never been given the opportunity to visit their Battle Buddies final resting spot in Arlington National Cemetery; but we want to change that!

Operation Once in a Lifetime is currently raising funds to take 50 Veterans to Arlington National Cemetery who have never been before. This trip will consist of Veterans from WWII (yup that is right, we have a 90 year old WWII Veteran on the list) to current Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans. If you would like to help us create 50 memorable life changing experiences for some truly deserving Veterans please see Story IV on our Current Needs page.

Our goal is to raise $50,000 to provide all these Veterans with free flights, hotels and transportation. Del Frisco’s Steak House has even offered to provide dinner for all 50 Veterans during their trip to DC as well!

Please watch the video below and listen to SSG Garnhart’s story:

Operation Once in a Lifetime makes some less fortunate Veterans’ day a little brighter. Sometimes all it takes to make a Veteran feel important is renting a coach bus and offering a free meal.

Operation Once in a Lifetime receives dozens of requests a day from Military Families from all over the United States needing assistance for the holidays. These requests range from needing help providing meals, gifts for their children, utilities and for some, assistance to prevent homelessness. When you donate to our “Toys for Troops” Program, all donations will be used to help our military, both Active Duty and Veteran families during this holiday season.

Operation Once in a Lifetime provided thousands of dollars in Thanksgiving Meals to less fortunate Veterans and their families thanks to our supporters.

Operation Once in a Lifetime teamed up with Tony LaRussa & Joe Torre when they donated three $10,000 seats to Operation Once in a Lifetime for the “Leaders and Legends” Conference to be given to three deserving Service Members.

Operation Once in a Lifetime made the dreams of 10 Military Daughters and their moms come true by taking them to Taylor Swift’s Concert and providing memories of a lifetime. One little girl who lost her dad last year was presented with an autographed guitar signed by Taylor Swift after the concert.