Families of Fort Hood victims get a lift from Luke's Wings

The mission of Washington-based charity Luke's Wings is to help wounded members of the military in a very special way -- the group pays for service members' families to fly to the hospitals where their loved ones are recovering. The organization can also arrange for rooms at hotels or admission to nearby amusement parks to smooth the stay. Luke's Wings raised over $28,000 in 2008, and that money often comes from benefits at happy hours and parties at bars.

After the shooting at Fort Hood last week, Luke's Wings quickly went into action. The group is hosting a fundraising happy hour at Rhino Bar on Veterans Day to help relatives of wounded soldiers fly to Texas to be near their loved ones. A $15 donation is requested at the door ($10 if you RSVP on the Luke's Wings Web site), and admission is free for military members wearing a uniform or carrying a military ID. (Donate $20 or more, and you get a free T-shirt.) Drink specials include $3 Miller Lites and $5 vodka Red Bulls, and there will be an appearance by Sweethearts for Soldiers -- a group of former NFL and NBA cheerleaders who travel around the country entertaining the troops. Doors open at 9 p.m.

-- Fritz Hahn