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Sgt. Roger Vega was emotional when he accepted a plaque on behalf of his unit from the Miami Heat during Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
“It was truly amazing a real once in a lifetime experience,” he said. “I was filled with emotion.”
The 26-year-old, who spent a year in Kuwait, recieved the plaque from the team's "Home Strong" program just before the National Anthem was played at the game. He said he felt "nothing but pride. We joined to serve our country."
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The program is part of the Miami Heat Charitable Fund, which recognizes soldiers and their dedication to the U.S. Armed Forces.
An email was sent out to members of the Florida National Guard asking who wanted to represent the unit, and Vega was first to respond, he said.
“I was super excited to read the email notifying me about the tickets. Even more excited when I got the reply saying that I was going,” he said.
Family members, including his 11-month-old son, gathered at home to watch the game.
“He recognized us on the screen. He kept yelling out mama and papa,” Vega said.
Vega also said programs like Home Strong are good for soldiers.
“Not a lot of people take their time to appreciate soldiers, their hard work and dedication by serving. To have a representative honoring their services is incredible,” he said.
