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Free Vacation for our troops!!

bbrontosaurus

Senior member
My first hot deal....just received an email from Sandals for the following:

Sandals and Beaches Resorts Salute the troops with Operation Relax

We are happy to introduce you to Operation Relax, an exclusive program launched by Mr. Butch Stewart to show his support for the Armed Forces. Beginning May 9, 2003,Operation Relax will offer $2 million in complimentary vacations to troops currently serving in the U.S. military, at home or abroad. Active military personnel or spouses of those serving overseas can apply for a complimentary vacation beginning May 9, 2003 by downloading the application form from the Sandals or Beaches website at www.sandals.com or www.beaches.com.

?The United States has offered me every opportunity and I am grateful,? said Stewart. ?These people have given so much. It?s an honor to do something special for them and a great source of pride and pleasure that we can.?

Valued at $2 million, the company will give $1 million worth of complimentary four-day/three-night vacations directly to active members of the armed forces. An additional $1 million will be donated via a sponsorship program allowing consumers and travel agents to ?earn? vacations for service people from their local communities. When consumers book six or more nights in a premium room or higher and pay in full through their favorite travel agent, Sandals and Beaches Resorts will give that participating agency a complimentary three night vacation to distribute to a member of the armed forces in their area.

*** Both travel agent military sponsorships and military vacations are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Vacations can be redeemed for up to two years upon issue date and cannot be resold, transferred or redeemed for cash. Restrictions apply and limit one sponsorship package per travel agency. Sandals and Beaches Resorts reserves full rights to authorize trips and some restrictions apply. Completed applications will be accepted through August 9, 2003. Individuals without internet access can call 1-800-SANDALS ext. 4163 to obtain an application. Airfare not included.


I have personally gone on a Sandals vacation to Jamaica...had a awesome time, and this is even better that it is free for our brave men and women. Kudos to our armed forces, you deserve it!

NOTE: I didn't see anything on the website regarding the application, but as stated, it will start on May 9th.

 
It's too bad only a few hundred will get these (how much are Sandals vacations?). I would hope more companies do something similar.

Brad
 
What...so after months and months in the hot deserts of Iraq, Kuwait etc. the troops are gonna be clamoring for a vacation with more hot sun and sand?? 😕
 
Originally posted by: uncJIGGA
What...so after months and months in the hot deserts of Iraq, Kuwait etc. the troops are gonna be clamoring for a vacation with more hot sun and sand?? 😕

I'm sure they'll love the not-getting-shot-at part though.
 
Originally posted by: Vadatajs
Originally posted by: uncJIGGA
What...so after months and months in the hot deserts of Iraq, Kuwait etc. the troops are gonna be clamoring for a vacation with more hot sun and sand?? 😕

I'm sure they'll love the not-getting-shot-at part though.


true. true.
 
Originally posted by: uncJIGGA
What...so after months and months in the hot deserts of Iraq, Kuwait etc. the troops are gonna be clamoring for a vacation with more hot sun and sand?? 😕

The water part will be nice too.
 
Originally posted by: Vadatajs
Originally posted by: uncJIGGA
What...so after months and months in the hot deserts of Iraq, Kuwait etc. the troops are gonna be clamoring for a vacation with more hot sun and sand?? 😕

I'm sure they'll love the not-getting-shot-at part though.

where's the adventure in that?
 
Bump for an awesome resort and for our troops. I'm headed to Sandals Dunn's River tomorrow for 8 nights😀😀😀😀
 
Great deal - an I am all for giving a vacation to the military troops that actively participated in the war effort. I am woundering though: Most service men and women in active duty are still over there, and many of them do not know yet when they will be back. So who will actually get to take those vacations?
 

So the country's biggest welfare system also gets free vacations?

Its people paying taxes that keep this country moving forward, how about a vacation for us?
 
Originally posted by: dpjax
So the country's biggest welfare system also gets free vacations?

Its people paying taxes that keep this country moving forward, how about a vacation for us?

If you mean to say that serving in the military is a form of welfare, then you have demonstrated immense ignorance and stupidity. It's people in the military who make it possible for you to earn your money in the first place.

Also, this is a private sector company offering this. Your taxes aren't paying for any of it.
 
It's not a welfare system. But it does provide employment for a lot of people who cannot find equivalent jobs in the civilian economy. The Wall Street Journal acknowledges that much. But job-related injuries are terribly high. Check out the following. Let them have a vacation, fast, because depleted uranium and the other crap that's part of the US war machine is going to put them down much worse than the Iraqis did:

1990 and 1991, some 696,778 individuals served in the Persian Gulf as
elements of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. Of these 148 were
killed in battle, 467 were wounded in action, and 145 were killed in
accidents, producing a total of 760 casualties, quite a low number given
the scale of the operations.

However, as of May 2002, the Veterans Administration (VA) reported that
an additional 8,306 soldiers had died and 159,705 were injured or ill as a
result of service-connected "exposures" suffered during the war. Even more
alarmingly, the VA revealed that 206,861 veterans, almost a third of
General Schwarzkopf's entire army, had filed claims for medical care,
compensation, and pension benefits based on injuries and illnesses caused by combat in
1991.

After reviewing the cases, the agency has classified 168,011 applicants
as "disabled veterans." In light of these deaths and disabilities, the
casualty rate for the first Gulf War is actually a staggering 29.3%.
GWI casualties article
 
I used to be in the airforce, and despite the fact that I hate paying taxes Its not the part of my taxes that goes to the military that ticks me off, Plenty of money gets wasted elsewhere. I'll gladly pay taxes so someone can risk there life(30% casualty rate in wartime as you stated) for minimum wage.
 
I am hoping one day that we can actually get to a point where we all collectively IGNORE DPJax's comments and those like them and keep on track for the thread.

This is a great Idea from Sandals and I would hope that this sets a precedent for many other companies to show their appreciation. If you come into my bar wearing a uniform.. Your first 2 drinks are always on me.. It is the least I can do to show my respect for the liberties they fight to protect.

~Thump
😀:beer:
 
Originally posted by: dpjax
So the country's biggest welfare system also gets free vacations?

Its people paying taxes that keep this country moving forward, how about a vacation for us?

I pay taxes... I'm in the military.
 
Great!!! This is well deserved for those who serve and protect those rights that we so love.

For all those who are practicing those rights, especially the free speech one, remember who ensures that you have that right before you go around slandering them.

Ignorance is bliss once again....
 
Anyone know if National Guard members get this? Before you start flaming about the reserves only serving on weekends...I did a tour of Operation Nobel Eagle for a year.
 
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