CHICAGO, 2016-May-04 — /Travel PR News/ — Chicago’s airports are ready to honor our military as the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) kicks off Military Appreciation Month. This annual celebration, now in its fifth year, recognizes active and former military personnel traveling through O’Hare and Midway International Airports.
Throughout the month of May, the CDA, in partnership with airport concessionaires and the United Service Organization of Illinois (USO), will sponsor a series of planned events and special discounts for military personnel at Chicago’s airports.
CDA Military Appreciation Month Highlights:
Patriotic decorations will add a festive atmosphere and sparkle to the terminal building at Midway.
Concessions Discounts
Restaurants and shops at both airports are offering discounts of up to 20 percent for traveling military personnel. A full listing of concessions discounts is posted at this link for O’Hare and here for Midway.
USO Donation Days
Tuesdays will be Donation Days for the USO. Passengers and airport employees are encouraged to visit the USO Centers at each airport and donate food items such as chips, water and candy, DVDs, video games, eyeglass wipes, hand sanitizer and other personal care items for use by military personnel and their families traveling through Chicago’s airports. Donation bins will be located at USO centers in Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 at O’Hare and in Concourse B. The Midway USO Center, conveniently located on Concourse C, will also offer donation bins.
USO Information Tables
Each Friday, the USO at O’Hare will staff information tables past security checkpoints to provide bottled water for military personnel and share information about what the USO offers to service members and their families, as well as volunteer opportunities for civilians. The tables will be staffed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the following dates and locations: May 6 in Terminal 1, B Concourse near the Brachiosaurus display; May 13 in Terminal 2 across from the Travelers Aid Booth. Passengers are encouraged to stop by and write a thank you note to those serve in the military from these USO tables. Thank you notes will be handed out to active military from the USO.
Musical Entertainment
A variety of live entertainment will take place at both airports on select Fridays this month. Entertainment at Midway will be on Friday, May 20 and Friday, May 27 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in baggage claim. At O’Hare on Friday, May 20 and Friday, May 27 from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. in the domestic terminals.
Social Media
The CDA will use the hashtags #ORDMilitaryLove and #MDWMilitaryLove on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter in its posts about Military Appreciation Month. Travelers are encouraged to use these hashtags on social media to find photos and information, or to post messages and photos to express their appreciation for our military personnel.
Honor Flight
On Wednesday, May 11, a group of World War II and Korean War veterans from Chicago and surrounding communities will have the chance to visit the National Memorials in Washington, D.C. thanks to Honor Flight Chicago. Now in its ninth season, Honor Flight Chicago provides transportation from Midway International Airport to Washington, D.C. and back for the veterans and their guardians. It also sponsors a send-off celebration at the departure gate with a performance by the “Legacy Girls”, an Andrews Sisters musical tribute trio. For more information about Honor Flight Chicago and how to register for upcoming flights, click here.
The CDA Media Relations office number is (773) 686-3700. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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Veterans and the Legacy Girls at Midway International Airport on April 13, 2016.