In 2011, the Dallas Cowboys expanded the team’s military outreach to include a dedicated Salute to Service recognition game in the month of November in commemoration of Veteran’s Day. The salute to both active and veteran military members included plaza displays representing each branch of service, a flyover by the U.S. Coast Guard Station Houston, a presentation of flags by a combined Armed Service color guard, U.S. Navy SEALS repelling from the stadium’s center-hung video board to deliver the coin to referees, appearances by members of the original Tuskegee Airmen in honor of the movie Red Tails and a $10,000 grant provided to the Tuskegee Airmen Institute from Cowboys partner Reliant, the recognition of three military families who received homes through the Military Warriors Support Foundation’s “Homes 4 Wounded Warriors” program, a special pregame reception with USAA and Cowboys legend and Navy veteran Roger Staubach and a special presentation of the National Anthem from the U.S. Army Band from Fort Sill, Oklahoma with featuring USO supporter and country music recording artist Neal McCoy.
During halftime, McCoy also served as Master of Ceremonies for a unique halftime performance that included a muster of more than 250 servicemen, women and families of deployed soldiers on-field during a medley of patriotic music and the anthems of each of the five military branches. A card stunt, sponsored by USAA, concluded the halftime with a message of “Thank You.” A special component of the halftime show was a surprise on-field reunion between Sergeant Justin Willits from the 1st Cavalry Division out of Fort Hood with his wife Maria and 10-month-old daughter Joanna. Sergeant Willits had been deployed to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom XII for more than 10 months. During the halftime celebration, Willits – who marched in with the U.S. Army representatives – surprised his family, who were attending the game without knowledge that he had been brought home early from overseas. This was Willits’ second deployment as a 1st Cavalry Division Trooper since 2008. Following the reunion, the Willits Family was presented with a $5,000 college scholarship for young Joanna provided by Gene and Jerry Jones Family Charities along with an all-expenses paid cruise for two courtesy of USAA.
The week prior to the Salute to Service game, the Dallas Cowboys and partner GlaxoSmithKline hosted a free health screening for veterans and their families at Cowboys Stadium. The event was open to men and women of the military, their families and the general public and included a free tour of Cowboys Stadium.
AMBASSADORS OF GOOD CHEER
The world famous Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders organization is completely subsidized by the club for the primary purpose of providing goodwill and a sense of caring on a local, national and international platform. Aside from their obvious presence on game days and their diligent work in local hospitals and homes for the elderly, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have now made more U.S.O. visits to U.S. military troops stationed oversees than the legendary Bob Hope.
