Buffalo players Dion Dawkins and Ryan Groy joined 50 veterans on a on a special Buffalo/Niagara Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., hosted by M&T Bank and the Buffalo Bills Foundation.
By Kelly Baker / Contributing Correspondent
For over 150 years, on Memorial Day, Americans have paid tribute to the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country and protecting our freedom. Although the name of the holiday by which we commemorate these real-life superheroes has changed over time, the dedication to honoring them for their selfless acts of courage has not. This year, Bills players Dion Dawkins and Ryan Groy joined 50 veterans on a special Buffalo/Niagara Honor Flight to Washington D.C. hosted by M&T Bank and the Buffalo Bills Foundation. The trip proved life-changing for the pair of O-linemen, allowing them to celebrate the veterans and remember those who lost their lives.
The group, complete with World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War veterans, was accompanied by volunteers from M&T Bank and departed for the Capitol on Saturday, April 14, from the Buffalo Niagara International Airport. Greeted by family and friends with signs donning well-wishes, the veterans received a warm send-off, which included a police, fire and Patriot Guard Riders escort to the airport and a 60-piece orchestra. For Dawkins and Groy, the opportunity to attend the event was one they held in the highest regard.
“Since I’ve been in the NFL, I’ve been raising money and the “My Cause, My Cleats” [funds] have been going to help veterans,” said Groy. “I’ve always just felt like that was something that I needed to do and appreciated. It was [very impactful]. I’ve never been to D.C. as far as going around and seeing the memorials, seeing the different monuments. Seeing the vets’ reaction to those was incredible. It was an incredible experience. I couldn’t be happier that I chose to do it.”
Both Dawkins and Groy have connections to the U.S. Military and found themselves humbled as they traveled to some of the nation’s most prominent memorial sites, such as the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, World War II Memorial, Seabee Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial and Vietnam Veterans Memorial. It also presented the Bills duo with a chance to exchange stories with the vets and learn more about their contributions to history.
“I have family that is in the service,” said Dawkins. “My sister’s husband is in the service, all my uncles were and my grandfather was. When they asked [if I wanted to participate in the Honor Flight], I said, ‘Of course’…I knew [the vets] had a bunch of stories…It was a great time…They all were huge Bills fans. They wanted pictures just as much as we wanted pictures with them.
“We went to the Pentagon, we had lunch with them, we saw all of the memorials around D.C. and just hung out with them. That was the most fun part, just hanging out and bonding with them. [They told me] old stories, old jokes and old laughs – everything.”
Getting to know the group of vets was indescribable for Dawkins and Groy, who watched in awe as they received much-deserved praise from everyone they encountered throughout the day.
“Going to Arlington National Cemetery [was a highlight for me],” explained Dawkins. “To see how much respect people were giving the guys [was great] – it opened up my eyes. Even around Buffalo, I met this one guy who was in the service and he has a service dog. He sent me an award he received. He was one of the reasons I thought I had to go [on the trip].”
The once-in-a-lifetime experience, was one that Dawkins and Groy will be forever grateful for. As touched as they were to take part, the veterans’ desire to get to know the pair better and talk football with them, made it that much more amazing.
“After being there and talking to them, to see their reaction to me and Dion being there, I was pretty blown away by that,” said Groy. “This is their day, this is all about them, yet they’re smiling ear to ear seeing both of us in our jerseys thanking them. That was a super special moment for me and I’m sure for Dion as well. I was honored to be invited to go on it. It was a whole day about them, but to be able to give them a little bit of a smile was awesome.”
After a day filled with reminiscing on old memories and making new ones, the veterans headed home to Buffalo, where they were welcomed back with open arms.
“To the group that I went with, I’d just like to say thank you for letting me be a part of that day,” said Groy. “Thank you for opening up and sharing stories, talking to a guy you don’t know, that you’ve never met before, but also a person that appreciates what you’ve done more than anything.”