Dream Flights' "Operation September Freedom" to fly WWII veterans with help from Sport Clips Haircuts

Hair care franchise will be the primary sponsor for ambitious effort that kicks off August 2021

GEORGETOWN, Texas

Two veterans prepare for their Dream Flight in front of a biplane with the Sport Clips Haircuts logo on itSport Clips Haircuts will serve as the primary sponsor of Operation September Freedom (OSF) an effort of Dream Flights, a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring military veterans and seniors with flights in restored Boeing Stearman biplanes. Operation September Freedom is attempting to locate and honor as many World War II veterans as possible with Dream Flights during a national tour beginning August 1 – September 30, 2021. The flights are piloted by professional, volunteer pilots and are free to participants.

“As a veteran-founded company, we're deeply committed to the work of honoring those who've served," says Edward Logan, president and CEO of Sport Clips. "Members of this 'greatest generation' of service members are due our respect and gratitude, and giving them this flight of a lifetime is just one of the ways we're thanking them while there's still time to do so." 

Of the 16 million Americans who served in WWII, only an estimated 100,000 are still living, with the youngest being in their mid-90s. Since the launch of Dream Flights in 2011, the organization has provided free flights for more than 4,200 veterans and seniors living in long-term care communities. Volunteering at nearly every Dream Flight event are Sport Clips volunteers.

“Sport Clips is a longtime supporter of Dream Flights and we’re incredibly grateful for their support of this historic, once-in-a-lifetime mission,” says Darryl Fisher, Dream Flights’ founder and president. “The company’s dedication to military veterans makes us proud to associate with this brand, and the enthusiastic support of team members takes Sport Clips’ support of Dream Flights to a whole other level.”

Sport Clips team members “sprinkle a little magic on every Dream Flight experience with their smiles, joy and appreciation for our military veterans,” says Fisher. “Together during Operation September Freedom, we expect to share the magic of a Dream Flight with more than 1,000 WWII veterans.” 

According to Fisher, Operation September Freedom may be our nation’s last opportunity to actively recognize and honor the men and women whose sacrifice led to the Sept. 2, 1945 signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, which effectively ended WWII, according to Fisher.

WWII veterans can request a Dream Flight and family members and friends can nominate someone for a flight. If you or your company would like to join Sport Clips in helping honor WWII veterans through Operation September Freedom, you can find out more at https://dreamflights.org/osf-method/.

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About Dream Flights

Dream Flights (formerly known as Ageless Aviation Dreams Foundation) is a nonprofit dedicated to honoring the service, sacrifice and stories of America's senior veterans by providing them with a life-changing experience: an open-air flight in the cockpit of one of Dream Flights’ fleet of fully restored WWII-era Stearman biplanes. From its founding in 2011 to today, the organization has honored more than 4,200 veterans and seniors with free Dream Flights. Each is made possible through the generous donations of corporate sponsors including SportClipsDirectSupplyAmerican Airlines, individuals and businesses from across the country and volunteer Dream Flight pilots and crew, many of whom are veterans themselves, all of whom support Dream Flights’ mission of “Giving Back To Those Who Gave.” Follow @DreamFlightsOrg on social media and visit www.dreamflights.org.