Military families bound by a common loss returned to Central New York Sunday evening. They went on an all expenses paid trip to Texas to meet and heal with other families who've lost loved ones in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
When the families stepped off the jet way, there were plenty of hugs and lots of applause. They're returning from Texas with some new hats and renewed hope.
Candy Clemens went on the trip with her grandson. She says, "It's wonderful for the wives and for moms of the soldiers who were killed to be with other people who have gone through the same type of death."
Like everyone else on this trip, Clemens lost a loved one at war. Her son, Shawn Michael Clemens died in Afghanistan in 2004. She thought it was important to take her grandson on the Snowball Express in Dallas, Texas. It's an all expenses paid trip where families who've all lost loved ones gather to heal together.
Clemens said, "No matter what anyone says to you, unless they've gone through it, they don't understand what you're going thru."
While there were somber undertones to the trip, everyone there said it was important that the kids have fun.
Nine year old Gavin Clemens, Shawn's son, said, "We went to the rodeo and i liked when the kids got to go by the calves."
The families left knowing they have the support of people all over the country.
"I've made a lot more friends. I've got email addresses and if we need to talk to each other, especially at the holiday time, we have someone else we can talk to who's been through same kind of experience," said Candy.
American Airlines staff donated their time to fly the families and they say it was an honor.
Pilot Ike Bouck said, "I'm a former military pilot so it meant a lot to me as far as the brotherhood of veterans."
