Philadelphia Eagles honor veterans at Lincoln Financial Field

SOUTH PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Before Sunday's home game against the Atlanta Falcons, the Philadelphia Eagles honored the men and women who have served in the U.S. military.

"It fills our hearts, it really does," said Nick Mirabile, Army veteran.

This year's Military Appreciation Day ceremony paid tribute to all veterans, and POW/MIA service members in particular.

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and Congressman Bob Brady joined Eagles President Don Smolenski at Lincoln Financial Field's HeadHouse Plaza to unveil a permanently unoccupied single, black stadium seat and accompanying plaque.

"The reverence the organization has for the military and the men and woman who serve and protect us everyday, its an honor to dedicate this seat to them," said Smolenski.

The items pay tribute to more than 92,000 American soldiers who are still unaccounted for since World War I.

A nationally recognized war hero also took part in Sunday's ceremony.

Sgt. Dakota Meyer, who was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Obama in 2011, was honored for his work helping returning veterans find employment.

Meyer is also known to national audiences as the son-in-law of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

"Veterans are the greatest of the generation. They could have done anything they wanted to, they could have chose to do anything they wanted to, but they chose to go over and they chose to serve their country," said Sgt. Meyer.

He's in Philadelphia from his home in Alaska, on the road now to promote veterans transitioning into the workforce.

"When you look at the skills these men and woman bring to the table, they're on time, they understand discipline, they understand decision making," said Sgt. Meyer.

We spoke with some other vets in the tailgates Sunday who couldn't agree more.

That includes Army vet Jeremy Cross.

"If I had a choice between two equal candidates, I would choose the veteran 100 times over," said Cross.

He owns his own business.

He says he'll always choose a fellow vet when he can.

"I know that they come from a background of service and honor and duty, and it's something that would benefit any organization," said Cross.

Statistics show the unemployment rate for veterans under the age of 25 is 13 percent, and for veteran spouses its 25 percent.

Sgt. Meyer says that's why he hits the road to try and bring those numbers down.