Heroes: Air Force Couple Honored by Panthers for Valentine's Day

Mark and Paula Redden both know the sacrifice of serving in the armed services.
As retired veterans of the United States Air Force and United States Air Force Reserve with a more than four decades of combined service between them, the couple credits their time in the service for teaching them the true meaning of patriotism and the importance of core values such as duty, honor, and courage.
Through a bit of serendipity, it's also the origin of their long and loving marriage of 21 years.

"We met through some mutual friends in the military," Mark said, breaking into a smile. "I went off to another a base, but a few years after that I came back to California where we'd originally met. I had called Paula and tried to reconnect, but she was stiff arming me a little bit.
"It wasn't until we went on deployment together, just a short one, to Hawaii in February of 1995 that we ended up officially started dating. On the way back from that deployment, we were on the same airplane and I got a chance to show her my good side and she said yes."
Making their annual Valentine's Day celebration a bit more special this year, the Reddens were honored by the Panthers during the second intermission of Saturday's game against the Lightning at BB&T Center as part of the organization's heralded and ongoing "Heroes Among Us" program presented by CITY Furniture.
Now in its eighth season, the goal of the "Heroes Among Us" program is to shine a spotlight on those that have served or are currently serving in the armed service during all home games. In addition to tickets, their story is shown in a tribute video, which always elicits a standing ovation.
The Reddens, however, marked the first time the Cats had honored two heroes at once. "When we first got the story brought to us, it was exciting," Panthers community relations coordinator Matthew Smith said. "We'd never honored a married couple before. We know that there are so many military families out there just like them sacrificing so much.
"Mark and Paula have such a great story, and we can't thank them enough for their many, many years of service. This is an honor for us to be able to have them, especially before Valentine's Day. I think that adds a nice and unique twist to an already incredible story."

A Chief Master Sergeant (Ret.), Mark served from 1987-2017 and spent the majority of his time in the Air Force as a boom operator. Joking that his kids like to call him a "gas passer," it was his duty to refuel planes mid-air during flights. As for Paula, a Master Sergeant (Ret.) in the Air Force Reserve, she served as a medevac and then later as a career advisor from 1990-2013.
Following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, both were called into action.
"A lot of things changed after 9/11," Paula said, holding back a few tears. "I was activated from the reserves and Mark was deployed… Family is really important because you need their support. Supporting the reserve, you often don't think you're going to get called up and asked by the President to defend your country.
"You know that when you sign up, but it just doesn't happen very often. Mark was deployed and I got called up. I had to ask friends and family to help. We were prepared to do it, but never thought we'd have to do. Our friends and family stepped up and helped us take care of the children during that difficult time."
During their shared deployment back in early 2001, the couple had a four-day overlap while stationed Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates during Operation Enduring Freedom. And even though they had separate duties, they were able to see each other a bit at that time.
Of course, as a married couple in the service, communication is never easy.
"Early on, it started with letters," Mark said. "Years and years ago, the internet wasn't a thing and e-mail wasn't a thing. Over time, the method of communication changed from letters to phones -- phonelines buried underneath the ocean, very echoey like a submarine. Then that translated to better phones and then emails… On my last deployment, FaceTime was great."
Enjoying their retirement together in Clermont, Florida, the Reddens had never attended a Panthers game before being honored on Saturday. In a way, the night served as an opportunity not only for fans to thank them for their service, but also for the couple to reflect on their service.
In the end, one of the most valuable things for veterans is having a friend to relate to.
For the Reddens, they have each other.
"To be able to share those experiences with one another, be able to have conversation that we both can relate to is extremely unique," Mark said. "She understands when I had to put on the uniform and deploy. She knows what that feels like, and likewise. She's the heart of the home, the foundation…. My wife exudes all that it is to be an airman.
"Had it not been for me and my career and going forward and her stepping back, I know that she would have gone on to do extremely important and high-level things in our military. But she, just like many others, sacrificed her career so that I could pursue my goal and our family's goals… Had it not been for Paula, I would not have made the achievements and milestones I did. She was our family's oarsman. She pushed me along in the boat that we call life."