7/4/17 – 32 active duty soldiers treated to fishing trip
6/28/16 – US Marine dad of Fallen Hero pays tribute to OOA
6/21/16 – Make PTSD counseling a priority
5/20/16 – OOA Founder named MVP of Hospitality, Tourism, and Business
5/16/16 – USA Today journalist praises OOA
2/11/16 – Operation Open Arms lends every assistance to US Marines lost in Hawaii CH-53 Helicopter crash<
1/20/16 – A Deadly Deployment, a Navy SEAL’s Despair
News 2015
6/8/15 – OOA Founder vs Alligator!
3/9/15 – Republican women seek our Our Founder
1/28/15 – Scientists Seek OOA Founder
News 2014
8/30/14 – OOA’s 100th Wedding!
8/29/14 – OOA reaches out to parents of slain journalist
8/24/14 – Mini Coopers rally to support Operation Open Arms
8/11/14 – MINI of Ft. Myers Rally (8/23/14) to Benefit Operation Open Arms
6/2/14 – Hometown soldier returns to hero’s welcome
6/1/14 – Hero Marine savors Southwest Florida’s ‘semper fi’
4/1/14 – Local company repairs roof at Operation Open Arms
1/23/14 – Back from heart attack to serve Our Troops
1/10/14 – Suicides of young vets top those of active-duty troops
News 2013
12/11/13 – Group looks to bring soldiers home for holidays
11/27/13 – Good news: ‘Open Arms’ on a mission for the military
11/10/13 – Honoring and Supporting Vets Beyond Veteran’s Day: One Marine’s Journey
10/7/13 – Letter Speaks to the Character of Operation Open Arms
8/21/13 – Marine writes stirring appeal for OOA
8/2/13 – Operation Open Arms needs our help
4/19/13 – Silver Star recipient Cpl Christian Brown honored on OOA’s 8th Birthday
1/25/13 Marine spends fun-filled day ‘back home’ in Southwest Florida
News 2012
12/5/12 A Christmas Miracle for Our Troops
11/11/12 Operation Open Arms donates final wedding
09/12/12 Collins Vision Contacts OOA to Help Give Troops the Gift of Vision.
05/09/12 Operation Open Arms is Honored with Junonia Award by Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau and Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce.
05/06/2012 Fort Myers Florida Weekly Newspaper Names OOA “Best Charitable Non Profit.”
04/29/12 US Marine Cpl Jonathan Taylor becomes OOA’s 2000th participant to receive full benefits.
04/21/2012 Wink News Covers Operation Open Arms welcoming of 1,999th Member at Southwest Florida International Airport.
03/31/12 Tarpon Lodge, Bert’s Bar, Sandy Hook, Jay at Bubba’s Roadhouse, Gerald Butters, Lisa Benton, Elaine McLaughlin, Maxine and Steve Woodard and Capt Chris Stanford and more Pine Islanders organize with Operation Open arms to provide Soldier’s wedding April 4.
02/08/12 Florida Weekly writer Roger Williams pays tribute to Operation Open Arms.
1/30/12 Parrot Key Grill helps Operation Open Arms recover from arson’s fire with speedy donation to replace lost gift certificates.
01/07/12 Tara Woodring and Jeremy Crosby, both active duty service members, tied the knot at a sunset wedding on Pine Island at renowned Tarpon Lodge. Operation Open Arms’ 92nd wedding!
News 2011
12/09/11 Gabriel and Caitilyn Lopez receive free beach wedding thanks to Pink Shell Resort and many Operation Open Arms contributors.
12/06/2011 Operation Open Arms Surprises Bride and Groom to be with Limo Ride in advance of OOA’s 90th Wedding as featured on WINK News.
11/20/11 Founder of Operation Open Arms, Captain John “GiddyUp” Bunch, Featured in Regional Southwest FL Living Magazine (Making Waves, page 10) for his Veteran’s day tribute to active duty troops.
11/11/11 Operation Open Arms and Pink Shell Resort host Six Weddings on Veteran’s Day, 11-11-11
11/01/11 Pine Islanders Care – Operation Open Arms a local treasure in Southwest FL.
09/09/11 Operation Open Arms Rallies Community to Bring Marine for Leave.
07/30/11 Fort Myers Beach Talk covers US Marines retreat sponsored by OOA. Recounts action on the battle field of soldier wounded while fighting the Taliban.
07/28/11 US Marines on leave from Afghanistan, Pakistan borders enjoy Fort Myers Beach retreat courtesy of OOA and ask others to donate to keep OOA going.
06/21/11 OOA helps serviceman get married on Fort Myers Beach, OOAs 81st wedding!
06/29/2011 Operation Open Arms Gets New Wheels – 1999 BMW Donated for Soldier Transport.
04/18/11 – OOA Receives Prestigious Award. John Bunch receives esteemed Seven Seals Award.
04/17/11 – Soldiers get Dream Wedding on Fort Myers Beach. Operation Open Arms help military couple.
03/09/2011 – ‘Giddyup’ behind a hero’s pitch The News-Press’s Sam Cook writes local soldier’s first pitch for Red Sox-Braves game.
03/09/2011- Operation Open Arms planned its 77th military wedding since 2005. in the Fort Myers Beach Talk.
03/02/2011- Red Sox honor two Cape Coral soldiers for their sacrifices in Afghanistan with the first pitch at the Braves vs. Red Sox game. Reported by Fox-4 and by NBC-2.
News 2010
02/01/2010- Operation Open Arms nominated in national publication “Making a Difference”
12/31/2010- Capt. John “GiddyUp” Bunch, the founder of Operation Open Arms, presents PFC Corey Kent with a Multi-Service Operation Open Arms Medallion at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington D.C.
11/15/2010- Capt. John Giddyup Bunch receives key to the City of Fort Myers.
11/08/10 – Golf tournament raises $7600 to benefit injured soldiers – FL Guide. The event was co-sponsored by the Cajun Classic and Operation Open Armswith 100 percent of all proceeds from the sold-out event going directly to Kent and …
10/21/10 – Corvettes on the Gulf, Helping Our Heroes, Naples Daily News (blog). For many of our military people, that’s life as they know it but they too get a vacation and that’s where Corvettes on the Gulf and Operation Open Arms come in.
10/21/10 – Spooktacular Vette/Chevy Fest show Saturday. Cape Coral Daily Breeze. Proceeds from the event will benefit Operation Open Arms.
09/05/10 – Homecoming for North Fort Myers soldier. Wink News Now. Emotional homecoming for a North Fort Myers family.
8/24/10- OOA organizes Sanibel vacation for Air Force mom.
More News
American Legion Presents Operation Open Arms with Honorary Lifetime Membership in recognition of service.
Operation Open Arms of Southwest Florida 