DALLAS — For the 17th time, soldiers from Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio got a chance to set their challenges and struggles aside, at least for one full day, as they were honored for their service by the Dallas Mavericks, American Airlines and scores of volunteers.
"Sometimes you may forget that there's people like this who are willing to do something and get you away from it for a while," said Jake Duval, a sailor who suffered an electrocution injury to his right arm while on board the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. "So when it does happen it's really cool of them to do."
Duval was among the 100 Brooke Army Medical Center patients who were welcomed by Dallas Mavericks cheerleaders and American Airlines volunteer staff at San Antonio International Airport on Monday. They boarded a private American Airlines charter flight, complete with a volunteer AA crew, for a flight to DFW Airport.
The soldiers included an Army private being treated for lymphoma, an Army Major recovering from a sudden stroke, and 19-year-old Cornel Paxton, who received a life-saving heart transplant in April of last year.
"This is real nice. It's like a movie almost," Paxton said of the free trip to Dallas he was receiving.
Because, as has become the Dallas Mavericks "Seats for Soldiers" tradition, the soldiers were flown to Dallas and then taken by coach bus to Nick and Sam's Steakhouse in Dallas for a gourmet meal.
"It just gives us an opportunity to be natural, normal people for a change," said Antonia Taylor, 36, a medical supply sergeant recovering from a hip fracture.
"Food feeds the soul. Although we owe them much more than a meal, we are honored to be able to treat the people who protect us. We admire our veterans' strength and courage and want them to know that we see and appreciate them," said Nick & Sam's Majority Owner and Partner Sam Romano and Corporate Chef and Partner Dhurandhar.
Next, they were taken to a VIP reception at American Airlines Center and given front row seats to the Mavericks game against the Orlando Magic. On Seats for Soldiers nights, season ticket holders give up their courtside seats so that wounded warriors like Renaldo Torres could forget about his near death experience, at least for a while. He suffered eight gunshot wounds in a jammed weapon shooting range mishap at Fort Hood.
"The doctors told me I wasn't going to walk again," he said from his wheelchair. "I lost 70% of my blood. I almost didn't make it. They revived me twice."
But with friends by his side he was able to hobble to courtside seats right next to the Mavs bench.
"It's awesome," he said. "I hope Luka [Doncic] has another 73-point night!"
Doncic didn't have 73 on Monday night. But he did pour in 45. And in another Seats for Soldiers night tradition, the Mavs won the game. But the Mavs CEO says everyone wins on a Seats for Soldiers night.
"It's my favorite day of the season," Cynt Marshall said. "We just want to say thank you to them. And we want them to never forget how important they are and always remember that we remember the sacrifices that they've made."
"For the past 17 years, Seats for Soldiers has been a special event for the American Airlines team – and one that I am especially proud to be part of as an Army veteran myself," said David Seymour, American Airlines Chief Operating Officer. "We are grateful for our team of volunteers and our partners at Nick & Sam's and the Dallas Mavericks for coming together to honor our nation's heroes in such a meaningful way each year."
In collaboration with Vet Tix, the Dallas Mavericks were able to provide more than 400 additional seats to active duty, veteran/retirees, Gold Star families and surviving spouse military members.
