Houston Airports Therapy Dogs help send off Gold Star families at IAH

The gate area at A29 looked different on Saturday morning. Snowflakes hung from the ceiling. Wrapped presents lined the walls. Santa, Mrs. Claus and a team of cheerful elves filled space at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). But the moment belonged to six wagging tails wearing red vests and holiday flair.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Houston Airports Therapy Dog Program partnered with American Airlines and the Gary Sinise Foundation to welcome Gold Star families traveling through Bush Airport for Snowball Express, an annual retreat designed to support the children and spouses of fallen U.S. military heroes.

Thirty-four family members boarded Houston’s Snowball Express flight on Dec. 6, joining more than 1,600 relatives traveling from 21 cities across the country for a week of remembrance at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL.

At IAH, the send-off was personal. Volunteers, airline staff and airport employees lined the gate area. TSA officers stopped for photos. Ramp crews waved from outside. Therapy dogs met families at every turn, offering comfort in a moment charged with emotion.

“This event means everything to our team,” said Ella Ghica, manager of Volunteer Initiatives for Houston Airports. “We bring our therapy dogs all over the airport year-round, but Snowball Express is different. These families have carried unimaginable loss. If our dogs can give even one moment of relief or a smile that lifts the weight, then we’ve done our job.”

Children gravitated to the dogs. Some knelt to pet golden coats and soft curls. Others hugged tightly or traced the names on each dog’s red bandana. The dogs responded with patience and calm.

The morning carried a rhythm of celebration: live saxophone music echoing through the gate, volunteers tossing faux snowballs, airline crews snapping photos before escorting families outside to the aircraft. Santa and Mrs. Claus walked each group to the jet bridge, waving until the last passenger boarded.

“This is what Houston-friendly hospitality looks like,” Ghica said. “It’s about showing up with compassion. It’s about creating a space where these families feel seen and supported from the moment they step into our airport.”

On the ramp, therapy dogs and volunteers gathered as the American Airlines A320 prepared for departure.

Snowball Express is more than a flight. It is a tribute to sacrifice and a moment of support for those who carry its weight. This year, six Houston Airports therapy dogs offered support by being present when families needed it most.