As Brent Lake, Dennis Shulman, Daniel Parobeck and Larry Jenkins walked into the fieldhouse at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on Nov. 4, they were surprised by DE Cameron Thomas and RB Quinshon Judkins standing on either side of a Salute to Service decorated table.
Thomas and Judkins pulled back the tablecloth to reveal four custom Browns jerseys with each of their last names on it. After taking a group picture, Thomas revealed one more surprise for the veterans – they would be attending the Browns' Week 15 game against the Bears in Chicago, in partnership with United Airlines.
"United is proud to partner with the Cleveland Browns," United Manager of Global Sponsorships Derek Russell said. "Supporting the military community is core to who we are, with thousands of veterans and reservists' part of the United family. Opportunities like this allow us to join forces with a like-minded partner in the Browns to show our appreciation for their service."
The Browns and United Airlines each reflect a commitment to recognizing and honoring the nation's heroes that have served and made sacrifices for the community and country. This is the fourth year that the Browns have collaborated with United Airlines to take a group of veterans to a Browns away game, going to Houston in 2022, Baltimore in 2023 and Washington, D.C. in 2024.
The Browns worked with local non-profit NEOPAT to identify the veterans who joined the Browns and United Airlines. NEOPAT nominated members of their veterans' groups who exemplify outstanding commitment to their communities, continuing their tradition of service beyond the military.
Lake, Shulman, Parobeck and Jenkins are all military veterans who have served in different branches. Lake served for four years in the United States Army while Jenkins served for 27 years, including 10 years in the National Guard. Parobeck served in the Army National Guard for six years and Shulman spent five years serving in the United States Marine Corps.
Just before the group boarded their flight to Chicago on Dec. 13, gate attendants made an announcement thanking them for their service and allowing them to board the plane first. While in the air, flight attendants also made an announcement to the plane, eliciting cheers from the rest of the passengers. After the group landed, they explored the city before going to dinner.
On Dec. 14, they bundled up to travel to Soldier Field. The group headed straight to the field for pre-game field access, taking a group photo and braving the cold winter weather in Chicago. Right after, they went to the indoor United Club to warm up and ate a pre-game meal before watching the Browns play the Bears.
United Airlines provided access to a United club at O'Hare International Airport as the group prepared to travel back to Cleveland. This gave them an area to rest and recover as well as grab a drink or snack before the flight back.
"I want to thank United and the Browns for giving us a memorable experience," Parobeck said. "It was great to experience a life in the day of a player with the travel and the ability to explore a new city."
The experience coincided with the Browns "Month of Giving," presented by Goodwill, which took place throughout the month of December. "Month of Giving' is an organizational tradition that allows individuals to make impactful contributions to deserving individuals and organizations as part of the Browns' commitment to advancing education, youth football and equitable opportunities.
Follow @BrownsGiveBack and clevelandbrowns.com/community/month-of-giving for updates on "Month of Giving."
