What is Operation Freedom Bird

Operation Freedom Bird was conceived in 1988 by America West Captain Pat Lynch, a decorated Vietnam veteran, and named after the Freedom Bird flights that transported soldiers back to the United States at the end of their Vietnam tour. He envisioned a way to reach out to his fellow veterans by providing an opportunity to spend Veteran’s Day at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (the “Wall”). Through sharing their experiences and confronting their feelings, these veterans could pay tribute to their fallen comrades and seek closure to their own emotional war wounds.

The program was successful beyond original expectations under the wing of America West Airlines and the Phoenix Vet Center for ten years. In 1998, Operation Freedom Bird was formed as an Arizona non-profit corporation and granted tax-exempt status by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) organization. Southwest Airlines signed on as the new airline sponsor and the program has continued to flourish.

The Arizona Vet Centers play an important role in the careful selection of those veterans who have prepared themselves to make this journey. The culturally diverse candidates from all walks of life are receiving ongoing treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) caused by their service in Vietnam. Representatives of the Vet Centers (Phoenix, Prescott and Tucson) join the veterans in Washington DC to provide counseling, leadership and emotional support.

For the past sixteen years, Operation Freedom Bird has hosted over 780 veterans on this healing journey. In previous years, veterans from other cities such as Las Vegas, Albuquerque, San Francisco, and Columbus, Ohio have been guests of the program. The participants have described it as both painful and liberating while forever changing their lives and the lives of their families.

It is the goal of Operation Freedom Bird to insure the continuation of this remarkable program which serves as a long overdue and much appreciated “Welcome Home” to its veteran participants. The organization was honored in 2002 with a letter from the White House signed by President George W. Bush in which he commends Operation Freedom Bird for its “important efforts to support our Vietnam veterans and to honor our fallen heroes”.

Operation Freedom Bird relies solely on the contributions and efforts of past participants, businesses and friends in our community to cover the cost of travel, lodging, meals and ground transportation for the annual voyage. Through their generosity, the healing mission of the Operation Freedom Bird tradition continues.