Falcons’ USO partnership brings surprise family reunion to Georgia National Guardsmen during Madrid weekend

The Atlanta Falcons partnered with the USO to honor four active-duty Georgia National Guardsmen stationed in Africa by flying them to Madrid for a weekend designed around one goal, reconnecting them with their families.

According to the Falcons, the three-day trip included a visit to Ciudad Real Madrid where the group attended a Falcons practice and toured the team’s training complex. Before practice, Atlanta head coach Kevin Stefanski addressed the Guardsmen and announced a surprise reunion, stating that families had traveled from the United States to reunite with them.

The team identified the four Guardsmen as SSG Nuvia Vergara, SFC Richard Logan, CW3 Richard Wilson, and Major Charles Snyder, all selected as part of the Georgia National Guard. Their service details were provided by the Falcons, including current attachments and roles within units deployed in Africa.

The weekend continued with time in Madrid with the Guardsmen and their families, culminating on Sunday with the group watching the Falcons take on the Cincinnati Bengals at Bernabéu Stadium, described by the Falcons as the second annual NFL game hosted at Real Madrid’s iconic home venue.

The Falcons credited the USO’s wider effort to support service members and military families, and noted that the NFL and USO partnership dates to 1966, when the league began sending players overseas to meet with service members and their communities.