The purpose of the AFEES is to encourage airmen who were aided by resistance organizations or patriotic nationals of foreign countries to continue friendships with those who helped them. Thousands of brave, ordinary people in the occupied countries took extraordinary risks at huge cost to help these airmen. Further,  to commemorate, remember and honor all those who were involved in escaping and evading, both the escapers and their helpers, and to get people together who feel the same way so that we may perpetuate the principles the original members stood for. This includes their descendants and anyone who is or has been associated with them in some way and want to continue the tradition.