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SALT LAKE CITY -- The war on terror, since 9-11, has taken a toll on the U.S. families of fallen heroes. On Wednesday, many of those families headed for Dallas for a few days of holiday fun.
We caught up with four Utah moms and their kids as they got ready to board the Snowball Express, bound for the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. It's a special all-expenses-paid holiday trip for families that share something than can be tough to bear.
Nine-year-old Carson Livaudais of Syracuse lost his dad in the Iraq War in 2003. He knows why American Airlines put together this trip for him and other participants.
"Because our dads went to war and died," Carson said.
His mother, Jackie Livaudais, said the holidays can be hard on her family ever since her husband, Nino Livaudais, was killed. It's a heavy burden, and often stressful for her kids.
Twelve-year-old Destre Livaudais went on the Snowball Express last year.
"We got to really bond as a family and talk, which is really one time of the year we can be excited about this kind of stuff," Destre said.
"I had a friend here, and we talked about some of that stuff," Destre said. "We told each other what it was like going through that and how we recovered, and it was a lot easier to share that with someone besides family."
The Utah families boarded the plane with families who got on in Seattle and Portland. American Airlines provides the travel, and the flight crews donate their time.
Collette Crandall's husband, Staff Sgt. Gregson Gourley was killed in Iraq in 2006.
"It's good for them to know that they're not the only ones that have to go through this, but there are hundreds of other kids that know what they've gone through," Crandall said.
Utah's Miss America, Charlene Wells-Hawks, is passionate about this mission and came out to greet the families.
"They are still grieving and have lots to get over," she said. "This is just a very small way for a lot of us to say, 'Thank you. We understand the sacrifice you've made.'"
Though they'll take some time for healing, the families' focus is on fun and enjoying a holiday trip on the Snowball Express.
E-mail: jboal@ksl.com
