CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Navy Lt. Mike Dominik put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a few patches on Friday morning to the surprise of PBR riders Kaique Pacheco, Joao Ricardo Vieira, Cole Melancon and Ezekiel Mitchell.
The four riders were taking a tour of the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas, as part of the PBR’s Day of Service ahead of this weekend’s PBR Air Force Reserve Cowboys for a Cause team bull riding competition.
Dominik, a Training Squadron 28 instructor pilot, had a surprise for the riders.
In his hands was a special-made, Velcro patch with a cowboy riding on top of an airplane. The patch said, “Airborne cowboy, addicted to danger.”
The riders immediately grinned and were stunned by the gesture.
“I like it. It is really nice,” Pacheco said. “I will keep this all my life. It is really important to come here to learn how things happen, and they showed us how they learn to fly airplanes. How they progress to more difficult planes and, how they protect the USA. It is very important.”
Dominik grew up in North Huntington, Pennsylvania, and said the idea to get the patches made came to him one night over a few hours of listening to country singer Chris Ledoux and a few drinks.
“I am a fan of rodeo,” Dominik explained. “I am from outside of Pittsburgh, and since I joined the Navy, I have lived most of my life south of the Mason-Dixon. I went to all the local rodeos I could down in Pensacola and I was going to go to the Houston Rodeo before it was cancelled.
“This has been amazing to show a couple of these guys kind of what we do.”
The PBR riders, staff and local volunteers then assisted The United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) branch on base transport some bags of food from the Corpus Christi commissary as part of the USO’s pantry program after partaking in a training demo of the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program.
Vieira called the men and who serve in all branches of the United States military the real heroes of the world.
“All the guys are joining together to help today,” Vieira said. “I am so blessed, and it is good for us to give back. These people are the real superheroes. The world needs more people like this.”
Vieira said he would wear his Airborne Cowboy patch on his vest during Saturday’ Cowboys for a Cause bull riding event on the famed USS Lexington aircraft carrier.
Fans can watch the eight-team bull riding competition Sunday on CBS national television at noon ET.
“I am so proud of this. This patch was used for his presentation, and it represents your job and your country. I will put it on my vest.”
The group then headed out to Parkview Park to join forces with another group of volunteers, including three-time World Champion Silvano Alves, and Kubota to help lay mulch down for a new playground set.
“It is really important to take care of the future for kids,” Pacheco said. “Their future is so important and this small thing can help.”
Mitchell added, “It is definitely humbling and grounding when you do stuff like this. A lot of times we get caught up in the fame and lifestyle. It is cool to slow down and help somebody else that needs it. I really enjoyed helping out today.”
Melancon often volunteers his time in his local hometown of Sour Lake, but he said it is also good to give back to the communities that welcome the PBR to town.
“It is cool to do it,” Melancon, who plans on putting his Airborne Cowboy patch in his trophy case, said. “It is just nice to be able to give back or to be able to help out and do things for the community. Even though it is not for my community, it is for the community of Corpus Christi, and that is important.”
COWBOYS FOR A CAUSE TO BENEFIT FARMER VETERAN COALITION
Jeanette Lombardo, the Executive Director of Farmer Veteran Coalition, also took part in the Day of Service alongside the PBR cowboys, bringing a joyous smile and energetic personality to the group.
Farmer Veteran Coalition is a national nonprofit non-governmental organization in the United States that mobilizes veterans to feed America and transition from military service to a career in agriculture.
BULL RIDERS SPEARHEAD EFFORT TO SUPPORT AMADEU CAMPOS SILVA’S FAMILY
The 24 riders competing this weekend decided Tuesday night that they would donate their $100,000 prize purse to the family of Amadeu Campos Silva.
The young Brazilian passed away last Sunday at the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour event in Fresno, California. He was 22 years old.
“It wasn’t hard at all,” Mitchell said. “The simple fact is his dream was to provide for his family through bull riding. Even though he is gone, it doesn’t mean his bull riding family can’t take care of him. We didn’t get to know Amadeu much. I got to hang out with him a few times. He was dang sure a super nice guy. I am excited the PBR decided to help out as well. Ariat and everyone else who contributed to his family.”
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
Photos courtesy of Andy Watson & Hailey Rae/Bull Stock Media
