Fort Worth

Snowball Express: Many show gratitude to fallen heroes’ families


Families of military members killed since 9/11 release balloons in memory of their loved ones at the Snowball Express Walk of Gratitude in downtown Fort Worth on Saturday.
Families of military members killed since 9/11 release balloons in memory of their loved ones at the Snowball Express Walk of Gratitude in downtown Fort Worth on Saturday. Star-Telegram

Crowds lined Main Street in downtown Fort Worth early Saturday to express gratitude to the children and spouses of fallen service members as part of the annual Snowball Express visit.

In the Walk of Gratitude, more than 2,000 relatives of U.S. service members killed in the line of duty since 9-11 walked from the Fort Worth Convention Center to Sundance Square Plaza.

The experience was emotional for many, including Jenifer Reeves, an Army veteran who said she was shot at during Desert Storm. It was a close call that could have left her daughter without a mother.

The Snowball Express children “lost their heroes. It’s heartbreaking,” said Reeves, holding a sign that read, “From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.”

The family members were flown to Dallas/Fort Worth Airport on Thursday for a weekend of good memories and healing.

— Mark David Smith

This story was originally published December 13, 2014 at 6:32 PM with the headline "Snowball Express: Many show gratitude to fallen heroes’ families."

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