The National Football League invited four 100-year-old veterans to honor the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II during the Super Bowl.
The NFL, which is celebrating its 100th season, wanted to commemorate the 75th anniversary of World War II’s end by inviting Staff Sgt. Odon Cardenas, 1st Lt. Samuel Lombardo, Col. Charles McGee, and Cpl. Sidney Walton to join players on the field Sunday night in honoring the service of the “Greatest Generation.”
All four of the men are 100 years old and served in the European and Pacific theaters during the war. Cardenas was deployed to central Europe, where he was captured and held as a prisoner of war in Germany until he was liberated by Allied forces. McGee and Lombardo both fought in World War II and continued their service to fight in the wars in Korea and Vietnam.
The four veterans will join players for the coin toss to kick off the big game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers. In addition to the coin toss, the NFL will honor the military with a pre-game flyover of four Navy aircraft, including two stealthy F-35s, an F/A-18 Super Hornet, and an EA-18G Growler.
The flyover is set to take place at the conclusion of the national anthem, which will be sung by Demi Lovato.
Practice makes perfect! Our F-35C and F/A-18E just took off in prep for the big game tomorrow! #FlyNavy #SuperBowlLIV #VAQ129 #VFA151 #VFA147 #vmfat501 #flymarines #flyover pic.twitter.com/xlxdMOorZx
— flynavy (@flynavy) February 2, 2020
