Veterans reflect on how WWP events and shared experiences reignite camaraderie, strengthen recovery, and foster community
The roar of the crowd. The electricity in the air. The sounds, smells, and colors of football’s biggest stage. The thrill of attending a Super Bowl is an unforgettable experience. But for some veterans, the most powerful part of a moment like this isn’t what happens on the field; it’s the connections they feel with one another.
Recognizing the vital role connection plays in a warrior’s well-being, Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) creates experiences that bring veterans together around moments that matter. With support from the NFL, a WWP corporate partner, several warriors received Super Bowl tickets, and what began as a game-day perk became a catalyst for reconnection.
By bringing warriors together for one of the country’s biggest sporting events, WWP and the NFL helped foster the camaraderie that so many veterans miss after leaving the military. For warriors like Loaman “Nelly” Nelson, Joe Lloyd, and Brian and Amanda Vines, the Super Bowl became a reminder that the bonds formed in service don’t end with the uniform — and that staying connected can make all the difference.
The Lasting Power of Military Friendships
Warriors Nelly Nelson and Joe Lloyd do interviews on Radio Row during the Super Bowl Experience ahead of Super Bowl LX.
Navy veterans Nelly and Joe say the bonds formed in service last long after deployments end.
Nelly describes the strongest friendships as building quietly over time, amid long hours, hard days, and shared challenges.
“You don’t realize the friendship you’re building together because you’re working hard every day, but when you start hanging out with folks outside of the ship, outside of work, that’s when you realize there’s something special there,” Nelly said.
Joe, who served 30 years in the Navy, says those relationships are the kind that don’t need much maintenance to stay strong.
“Sometimes you might not talk to somebody for a couple of weeks, a couple of months, but when you reconnect with them, it’s like you haven’t missed a beat,” Joe said. “That’s the kind of connection you build with people you meet in the military, and it’s always something I’ll always cherish the rest of my life.”
Nelly admits he doesn’t recall things as specifically as Joe does, like the day that they first met in Pascagoula, Mississippi, as part of the advance staff of the USS San Diego.
“It was a Thursday,” Joe noted with a smile.
In November, their friendship came full circle. Nelly, who lives in Miami, Florida, was surprised with two tickets to Super Bowl LX by Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd, who also happens to be Joe’s son.
Devin, known for his commitment to the veteran community, was happy to honor military service in a meaningful way. Through the years, Devin has supported veterans service organizations, including WWP, through My Cause, My Cleats, held football camps for military kids, and joined warriors at a WWP event focused on mental resilience.
When Devin presented Nelly with the Super Bowl tickets, Nelly knew right away who he wanted by his side for such a special experience: Joe.
A Super Bowl Weekend That Meant More
Nelly soaked in the star-studded experience — and the childlike joy of the moment.
“It’s been totally amazing,” he said. “I just saw Cam Newton and Terrell Owens; Ochocinco just walked past. It’s just been amazing, I couldn’t ask for anything more. … I’m like a little boy inside, enjoying the moment. I’m just amazed, I’m happy, and just grateful to be here.” For Joe, attending the Super Bowl was something he could check off his “bucket list.”
“The Super Bowl is just like advertised,” he said. “A great experience, the ambience, the energy, the excitement; it’s something I’ll never forget.”
For both warriors, the biggest win wasn’t on the scoreboard — it was the chance to share an unforgettable experience that reinforced a lifelong bond.
While Nelly and Joe’s weekend was grounded in friendship and reconnection, other warriors found something equally powerful in their Super Bowl journey — healing, purpose, and renewed community.
Healing Together, Finding Community
Warriors Natalie and Brian Vines (left) join other WWP warriors at Super Bowl LIX in 2025.
Army veterans Brian and Natalie Vines say their Super Bowl opportunity affirmed how far they’ve come together.
“It was a great experience and what a surprise,” Brian said of being gifted tickets to Super Bowl LIX in 2025.
“What an honor that they picked Natalie and I to do this and be the voice for WWP,” Brian said. “WWP took care of us. And we got to go to Radio Row and do all the interviews, which gives us a chance to tell our story and talk about how it’s afforded us opportunities, really to have brought us closer together.”
The Vines’ WWP journey began years earlier, during a difficult chapter. Brian explains that Natalie served almost 21 years in the Army. She sustained multiple injuries in Iraq, but after a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) in Mosul, she was medevaced to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. It was there, in the middle of recovery and uncertainty, that Natalie first connected with WWP and received a backpack of care items. That moment became the start of something bigger, with support that continued once she returned stateside.
Brian initially engaged with WWP as Natalie’s caregiver — then as a fellow warrior. Together, they completed mental health retreats (individually and as a couple), participated in Soldier Ride, spoke at community events, and ran the Carry Forward 5K.
Rebuilding Purpose: From Recovery to Role Models
Warriors Brian and Natalie Vines found their community in adaptive sports and physical health and wellness.
Transition wasn’t easy, Brian said. . At first, each week felt like it was measured in appointments, and the couple struggled to find the right people to lean on. Finding a healthy community changed everything.
“When we kind of got away from that unhealthy lifestyle and embraced a healthier lifestyle through our gym, it gave us purpose — not just the physical aspects of it, but also the mental and spiritual aspects of it,” Brian said.
Natalie emphasized connection as the foundation of that shift as well.
“Make sure you have that support group,” she said. “It’s important to find the right support group and hang on to it.”
Today, Brian and Natalie train at the Adaptive Training Foundation in Texas, where they earned personal training credentials and now mentor other veterans.
“Now we act as support trainers for other veterans, helping them become better versions of themselves,” Brian said.
The Importance of Connection in Military Communities
Whether it happens in the stands at the Super Bowl or in everyday life back home, connection remains one of the most powerful tools in a warrior’s recovery. Shared experiences remind veterans that they’re not alone — and that their stories, struggles, and triumphs matter.
“Connection is a stabilizing force in a warrior’s life,” said Wil Williamson Jr., vice president of Connection for WWP. “It calms the nervous system, expands resilience, and restores a sense of belonging. When veterans share experiences — whether at major events or in everyday moments — they are reminded that healing happens together, not alone.”
Although Nelly and Joe have maintained their connection over the years, they also connected with other warriors at a WWP Project Odyssey in Bend, Oregon. Project Odyssey uses adventure-based learning to help warriors step out of their comfort zones and build mental resilience.
Programs like Project Odyssey and WWP’s Peer Support Groups provide warriors with a safe, supportive network where they can heal, grow, and find purpose together.
“Wounded Warrior Project’s Peer Support Groups create spaces where warriors can show up as they are — understood, accepted, and supported by people who truly get it,” Wil said. “These groups transform shared experience into shared strength, turning isolation into connection and connection into lasting resilience.”
Guidance for Warriors Transitioning Today
Find out how WWP’s programs and services help warriors thrive for a lifetime.
About Wounded Warrior Project
Wounded Warrior Project is our nation’s leading veteran services organization, focused on the total well-being of post-9/11 wounded, ill, or injured veterans. Our programs, advocacy, and awareness efforts help warriors thrive, provide essential lifelines to families and caregivers, and prevent veteran suicides. Learn more about Wounded Warrior Project.