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Four soldiers at Fort Carson were sent to their Sgt. Major’s office on Tuesday.
They thought they were in trouble.
"I was freaking out," said Andrew W.
"Normally if you are called to Sgt. Major’s office you did something bad. You messed up," said Felix F.
Jordan T. pointed out that "you’re not going there to eat cookies and drink milk."
But they were going there for an invitation to a surprise Thanksgiving meal hosted by Broncos’ linebacker DeMarcus Ware and practice squad cornerback Taurean Nixon at Ware’s home.
"Surprise! Happy Thanksgiving!" Ware said as he opened the door to the four flabbergasted soldiers.
The experience was hosted by USAA, the Official Military Appreciation Sponsor of the NFL, as part of the league’s commitment to honor military through "Salute to Service."
Ware, who is the Broncos’ nominee for the 2016 USAA Salute to Service Award, told the soldiers they are the real heroes.
"We’ve got a lot of things to be blessed for today, a lot of things to be thankful for," Ware said. "People look up to us and they say we are the stars, but the thing is, for us, you guys are the stars. You are the guys we look up to, going over and beyond in a whole different realm keeping us safe."
The @Broncos are proud to recognize @DeMarcusWare's commitment to our military.
— Broncos Off Field (@BroncosOffField) November 2, 2016
: [https://t.co/KL2JVSPdJ8] #SaluteToService pic.twitter.com/Hk5qVPuKRB
Allen R., whose parents are from a different country and joined the Army to repay America for opening its arms to him, was relieved this was the reason he was called to his supervisor’s office earlier in the day.
"I did not see this afternoon going this way at all," he said with a big smile.
In honor of #SaluteToService month & #VeteransDay, this #TalkNow is for those who serve. It's our rent for living! https://t.co/A1gPma5mC4
— D-Ware (@DeMarcusWare) November 11, 2016