A group of Lackland A.F.B. airmen visit with VIVA performers Chuck, Trevor, and Elizabeth after a show.
My job as an animal trainer is an awesome one for many reasons. Of course training and performing with beluga whales and Pacific white-sided dolphins is an obvious joy. But, sometimes the joy is in the people we get to meet and the connection we make with them. This weekend I had one of those moments when I met a group of guests who touched me.
During one of the VIVA shows I heard a group of people screaming and giving me shout outs of love. Was it my family or some old friends from high school? Nope. It was a group of young airmen who were stationed at Lackland Air Force Base for training. They were all in school studying to be Air Force police officers. In a few weeks they would all head out to their respective bases around the world to defend our country. Throughout the entire show they were excited, cheering, smiling, having a good time and enthusiastically showing it. We performers love guests like them. After the show I just had to meet these great people. After the introductions were over, I offered to take them backstage to meet some of the animals. For the next 20 minutes we toured the facility and had a great time. They were inspirational and fun. We chatted, took pictures and had a blast. They gave me the opportunity to do what I enjoy the most… meeting people and sharing the animals with them. It was the highlight of my weekend.
Active duty military members can get a complimentary single-day admission for themselves and up to three direct dependents to SeaWorld any time during the operating season by partaking in our Here’s to the Heroes campaign. Thousands have taken us up on our offer to spend a day at the park with their loved ones enjoying all the great attractions. Coming from a military family myself, it’s always a joy to look out into the crowd and see the defenders of our country and freedom enjoying the show.
So, here’s to my new heroes and friends, Airmen 1st Class Adam, Jeremy, Anthony, Josh and Matthew, and their lovely friends Brittany and Hannah. Thanks for coming to SeaWorld. Thanks for what you do for our country. And thanks for making my day.
Continued success and blessings to you and yours.
Chuck Cureau
Related posts:
Tags: Here's to the Heroes
Posted in Around the Park
This is a reply to both SeaWorld and to those in our Armed Forces: Keep up the good work!
great picture, Chuck. It’s one of the first things that impressed me about SeaWorld when I came to visit Jeremy last fall was their emphasis on our military heroes. Awesome! Hope all is well with you, am hoping to make another trip your way next year. God Bless, Cindy
Twitter Comment
Check out my latest SeaWorld blog! [link to post] #swsa (via @ChuckCureau)
– Posted using Chat Catcher
Twitter Comment
Some of our Heroes created a touching moment during a recent visit to our park: [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher