Originally published: 2025-08-21T18:30:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.
In preparation for the 2026 National Veterans Golden Age Games, Veterans from the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital were invited to attend The Tampa Bay Buccaneers “Military Day” practice on Thursday, July 31, 2025.
The event was dedicated to honoring Veterans and active duty service members, and it functions as part of the team’s ongoing outreach to the military community, which included engaging meet-and-greets with players, offering attendees opportunities for personal interaction.
Veterans were up close to watch practice drills, interact with players and enjoy a relaxed yet meaningful atmosphere. Post-practice, Buccaneers players took time to meet the attendees, sign memorabilia and engage in genuine conversations, ensuring every guest felt acknowledged and honored.
Engaging with heroes
“The patients are completely different when you take them outside of the hospital environment,” said Evely Mack, recreation therapist. “The outing provided a real-world application of skills, such as socialization, attention, mobility, emotional regulation and visual function, adapting to the diverse needs of the participants.”
The Veterans exhibited different levels of physical and cognitive functioning. Some found challenges in navigating the terrain or managing social interactions, while others required breaks from the crowd to cope with potential PTSD triggers. The tailored support from staff ensured each Veteran received the appropriate level of assistance to maximize the outing’s therapeutic benefits.
“We had many different levels of physical and cognitive functioning with our Veterans. Stepping over the netting to get to the field was a big challenge for some but not others. Sitting higher on the bleachers was easy for some, but not others. Some struggled socially,” said Mack. “Others needed breaks from the crowd as distraction for trigger symptoms. We never want to over-staff an outing, but sometimes the therapeutic benefit can best be reached with more one-to-one staffing for the brain injury population.”
Overall, Military Day wasn’t just an occasion to witness an NFL team in action; it was a meaningful tribute and a practical extension of rehabilitation efforts. The collaboration between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and VA underscored the importance of community support in the healing process, offering Veterans recognition, engagement and a sense of belonging outside the hospital setting. Through events like this, we collectively honor and support those who have served, integrating therapeutic rehabilitation with community reintegration in a heartfelt and impactful way.
Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Its Veterans is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government.
