COLORADO SPRINGS – Seventeen local military families and their children are experiencing the trip of a lifetime.

The Gary Sinise Foundation and American Airlines have partnered to fly more than 1,700 Gold Star families to Orlando for a special vacation experience at Disney World.

We spoke to a local 15-year-old, Garrett Sartor, who lost his father in Afghanistan five years ago. It was his 11th combat tour.

“It helps me because it gives me a place to go when I’m sad or hurt, and I can talk to them about anything because they know the same situation. We can just rely on each other,” he said.

Garrett has been to Disney World three times with the foundation and tells News5 the support he receives goes a long way.

“I learned that it’s just great to have a family and it’s great to have people who come to us right away and help and be with us.”

His mother, Deanna, tells me what this trip on the Snowball Express means to her.

“It just gives me joy that our sacrifice is not forgotten. We remember our hero every day and we can always rely on these people. Even outside of Snowball, we know they are there for us,” she said.

As Garrett gets older, he wants to help other children who have lost a loved one in combat.

“I hope that I can make a lot more friends here and that I can help other children who either have a recently deceased parent, just need more help or have never made this journey before. I hope I can help them because I know how they feel and how hard it is to get through it. I know what it’s like to have other people you can rely on.

Watch the full story above.

The local towing company received at least twice as many calls during winter weather

A local towing company received at least twice as many calls Monday because of the winter storm.

The local towing company received at least twice as many calls on Monday