Veterans honored during Canes game

"I just appreciate the fact that people are aware and appreciative," veteran Roger Hamre said.

The veterans were given a police escort to the game. Once there, they were treated like royalty with box seats and a group photo taken on the ice. 

"It's just a great feeling to be recognized and for somebody to say 'thank you,'" veteran John Phillips said.

Gary Clark was one of the many Canes fans who stopped to thank the war heroes. 

"My dad was a veteran, who passed 12 years ago. These guys, we're here because of what these guys have done," Clark said. 

As the Hurricanes battled on the ice, many veterans couldn't help but recall their own battles more than six decades ago and the comrades who didn't make it back.

"For their country, they gave it unabashedly, unashamed," veteran DC Lawson said. "They donated their life." 

And when it came to revving up the Hurricanes siren, Lawson attacked the task with vigor.

"I believe that it is an honor to be able to do it for the rest of the veterans and I do it for them," Lawson said.