War veterans honored at Ducks game

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It was a night of many splendid touches and tributes at the Ducks-Canucks game Friday night.

But one moment stood out, of course, on Veterans Day. Three members of the military were honored at a ceremony in the intermission between the first and second periods. Kept quiet was the fact that they would be getting mortgage-free homes, donated by the Military Warriors Support Foundation and provided by Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo.

The secret held.

The three troops were Andrew Martinez, Eder Palma and Elliot Miller. Palma, of the U.S. Army National Guard, told Ducks staffers that he was nervous simply being down on ice for the ceremony, saying:

‘As soon as they gave out the first house to Miller, that was incredible. In times like these, who is able to give out a house? I was definitely impressed and happy for my comrade.

‘But then they announced that I was also getting a house and that just blew my mind. I thought, ‘There was no way this is really happening.’ I’m still in shock. It’s a great feeling -- I don’t really know how to react to it just yet.’

-- Lisa Dillman