Baltimore Ravens Cheerleaders honor Veterans at Baltimore VA Medical Center

On November 10, the day before Veterans Day 2025, members of the Baltimore Ravens cheerleading squad paid a surprise visit to the Baltimore VA Medical Center, presenting patients with Veterans Day pins, offering thanks and spending time listening to the stories of our local veterans.

The visit, according to WBAL in Baltimore, is part goodwill gesture, part of the NFL’s broader Salute to Service spirit – and the visit brought smiles and applause to veterans receiving care at the downtown facility. Cheerleaders handed out lapel pins, posed for photos and spent time chatting one-on-one with veterans, many of whom said the acknowledgement meant a great deal after years of service.

“This is just a little bit of us sharing our gratitude,” Christopher Buser, deputy director for the VA Maryland Health Care System, told reporters, summarizing the sentiment at the event. Buser — an Army veteran who helps oversee the Baltimore VA Medical Center — said gestures like the Ravens’ visit help raise morale and remind veterans they are supported by their community.

For some veterans, the moment carried particular resonance. Johnnie Jones, an Army veteran who served during the Vietnam era, reflected on how public appreciation has changed since he returned home decades ago. “Coming home, that was hard because you got no respect,” he said, adding that today’s recognition still matters. Another veteran, Jeffery Crowder, said the surprise visit lifted spirits and was a welcome reminder of community support.

Members of the Ravens cheer team, including current and former service members among their ranks, said they make honoring military members and veterans a priority each year. The Baltimore Ravens organization highlights “Salute to Service” and other military-focused community work on its community pages, noting regular partnerships and outreach to military families and veterans across the Baltimore region.

Officials at the VA used the occasion to remind veterans and their families about services available through the VA Maryland Health Care System, encouraging veterans to seek care and to take advantage of support programs offered at the Baltimore campus and across the system. The VA’s Maryland Health Care site lists resources, events and local contacts for veterans seeking care, according to Veterans Affairs.

“Thank you veterans, one and all”

~ Ace News Today

Check out the video below to see the Ravens Cheerleaders surprising our Americans Veterans, pinning them, and thanking them for the service and their sacrifices.