ATLANTA — ANGEL FLIGHT SOARS™, best known for its philanthropic air transportation efforts for patients in need of medical care, has soared even higher in facilitating the delicate and sensitive delivery of an endangered green sea turtle.

“Pierce,” a 16-pound rehabilitated green sea turtle, will find its new home in Dubuque, Iowa, on Thursday, June 19.

Pierce will be stopping at DeKalb Peachtree Airport (PDK) June 19 as he transfers to the second leg of his fight that will take him to his final destination in Dubuque.

ANGEL FLIGHT SOARS™ is orchestrating the relocation of this rescued sea turtle thanks to the generosity, time and efforts of one of its Angel Flight Soars volunteer pilots, Leslie Weinstein, founder of True-Lock and a board member of the University of Florida’s Archie Carr Sea Turtle Research Center.

Pierce’s new home is the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium in Dubuque. He will be flown there from the Georgia Sea Turtle Center located on Jekyll Island.

The safe and secure delivery of Pierce will be a highly delicate operation orchestrated under the strictest federal protection guidelines for endangered species, according to officials. In addition, Pierce will be accompanied by his very own handler, specifically trained for his care.

ANGEL FLIGHT SOARS™ is a non-profit 501(c)(3) volunteer pilot organization that provides free air transportation for medical treatments that are not available locally and for other compassionate purposes for the benefit of the community. This service is available for any medically stable and ambulatory patient demonstrating a financial need and/or anyone who cannot utilize or access commercial transportation. ANGEL FLIGHT SOARS™ is funded entirely by corporate and private donations.