OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma has been recognized with the 2015 Beacon Award in recognition of its services to military veterans.

Four years ago, the Oklahoma-based tribe joined Veterans Airlift Command, a nonprofit organization that provides free air transportation to wounded veterans and their families.

Since then the tribe has spent hundreds of flight hours on journeys to help wounded veterans, a total of 80 missions involving more than 97,000 miles.

It’s often difficult for some veterans to travel on commercial airlines because of injuries. Veterans Airlift Command provides a low-stress environment for traveling anywhere in the U.S. for medical and compassionate services.