It's no mistake that Trevor Burpee, 8, chose a leather vest as his personalized welcome gift to the ninth annual Snowball Express gathering.
"I got a biker one because I like bikers. And I like motorcycles because my dad used to have one," Trevor said.
Trevor and his mother, Rikki Burpee, came to Fort Worth from San Angelo this week for a chance to feel more "normal."
Snowball Express has a simple mission statement: "Provide hope and new happy memories to the children of military fallen heroes."
Staff Sgt. Stephen Burpee, 31, an Army firefighter, died in the spring. Since then, it has been difficult for mother and son.
"It's only been since May. So having all these people around and being with people who know exactly what we're going through is really cool," Rikki Burpee said.
The Burpees are among thousands of Americans who have suffered the same personal tragedy, losing a service member since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.
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"We want them to know that we remember the sacrifice that they are making every day from this day forward and that the sacrifice that their dad or their mom made is honorable," said Buck Kern, executive director of Snowball Express.
Thursday night's welcome ceremony for the Snowball Express families featured a parade inside the Fort Worth Convention Center Arena, with participants ranging from Star Wars characters to active duty military members, all of whom were greeted with loud applause and a sea of smiling faces.
"He's been kinda having a rough time the last week or so, I think just getting close to Christmas," Rikki Burpee said about her son. "So I think seeing all these other kids who are in the exact same spot as him, losing mom or dad, I think it will really help."
