Fall River Marine serves home with the nonprofit organization Miles for Military

On December 22, 2024By Littum

FALL RIVER – Maureen Byrne, the proud mother of a Marine, is keen to help soldiers fly home for the holidays – or any special day, like weddings, birthdays or anniversaries.

She is the founder of Miles for the militarya Boston-based nonprofit that connects junior active duty military personnel in the ranks of E-1 through E-4 with other nonprofit organizations close to their bases. Once service members have completed 25 hours of volunteer work during their downtime using the Miles for Military system, they can apply for transportation home.

Earlier this month, native and Marine First Class Antonio Marcucci landed in Boston Logan International Airportwhere he was met by his mother, Jennifer Harris, a Marine Corps veteran, and her wife.

“The homecoming was amazing,” said Byrne, who was invited to witness the emotional reunion at the airport. “They were just so excited to have him home. … The price of tickets is astronomical,” Byrne said.

Marcucci’s free time to take leave from his base in Havelock, North Carolina, is dwindling before he will be stationed on the West Coast “for an intel job, so I’ll be collecting data,” Marcucci said. The position will see him move to Arizona or Hawaii.

“We’re probably sending about 100 kids home for Christmas this year,” Byrne said.

What are the steps service members can take to earn a ticket?

Any service member enlisted in the eligible ranks of E-1 through E-4 in any branch of the military stationed on base nationwide may select a nonprofit registered as a 501(c)(3)- organization to contribute 25 volunteer hours.

Marcucci, for example, drove an hour off base to volunteer Joyful Hearts Deliveries nonprofit, headquartered in Lejeune camp area in Jacksonville, North Carolina, where he put together deployment packages such as snacks and household items for American soldiers based in Okinawa, Japan.

“It helped us get out of the barracks,” Marcucci said of his time spent volunteering with other service members. He said he has been stationed in North Carolina for about nine months, an hour south of Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station.

Once the volunteer hours are completed and logged, service members can apply for transportation through the Miles for Military website at least two weeks before their desired departure date.

Which flights are eligible to be claimed?

Miles for Military will cover the cost of air travel anywhere in the contiguous United States.

“We send kids all over the country … from California, Texas, Arizona and Utah,” Byrne said.

She said airfares range up to $900 to travel from North Carolina to Boston, but Byrne said she has seen flights priced at $1,300 to travel from North Carolina to Phoenix, Arizona.

“The fares just go up,” she said, especially around the holiday season, which is a peak time for travel.

Do earned tickets ever expire?

No. Service members who receive flights through Miles for Military can save their ticket for an emergency flight home, an upcoming family celebration, or for the next holiday season.

Incentives for service members and nonprofit organizations that host soldiers

“It feels really good to be on the other end,” Marcucci said of the service he completed that locked a flight home to Fall River.

Byrne argued that there are also mental benefits in store when it comes to relieving young service members of constantly remaining on base. “These kids are future veterans,” Byrne said. “It is a good habit to start volunteering when you are young. It is a gift you give yourself for the rest of your life.” She maintained that the organizations, and the people who use those organizations, benefit from the extra help. “They’re just excited about all these extra hands,” Byrne said of the feedback she’s heard from the Camp Lejeune area, saying volunteering not only allows members to serve the public in an alternative way, but many of these nonprofits in turn serve militaries globally.

Retired Air Force and Miles for Military board member Ramon “CZ” Colon-Lopez said in a statement shared with Herald News that Miles for Military plays a vital role in supporting the overall well-being of service members.

“Miles for Military (provides) another opportunity for our service members to enjoy time with their families while adding value to their communities through volunteer opportunities. That’s what a ‘whole nation’ approach looks like,” Colon-Lopez said.

Byrne’s son served as inspiration for the fast-growing nonprofit

Miles for Military was inspired by her son, Ronan, in 2021. “One particular weekend on a Friday afternoon,” she said, Ronan and a friend, Danny, “were on their way to Raleigh,” volunteering at a Special Olympics event, Byrne said. The previous Thanksgiving he was home, “and the ticket cost a fortune.”

She said Ronan told her that “no one goes home, no one can afford it.” Now, Byrne said, Ronan and his friend are “thrilled that all these kids are coming home in the moments that matter.”

Where are you going next?

Miles for Military seeks to connect service members with nearby nonprofit organizations Fort Liberty in North Carolinaand Camp Pendleton in California. A major drawback, Byrne said, is that few nonprofits are within driving distance of many of the nation’s military bases.

“We need to make sure we have volunteer organizations around and near the base so these kids can have opportunities,” Byrne said.