This Memorial Day, the family of a Tacoma veteran was remembering their grandfather – and his dream that the Seahawks helped make happen.
Robert Epperson was a World War II and Korean War veteran who earned three Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star Medal with Valor, and other awards.
As his health was diminishing in 2013, he told his family from his hospital bed that he wanted to see a Seahawks game.
On Sundays, Epperson watched games from his assisted living home in Tacoma, hoping to catch a TV crowd shot of his granddaughter who never misses a home game. He loved Russell Wilson, pulling for the 5-foot-11 quarterback who has defied odds.
When Epperson's granddaughter, Casey Crust, heard of his goal to go to a game she thought, "How's he going to get to go?"
Crust and her cousin, who's in the Coast Guard, admired how the Seahawks honored veterans before games. So when their grandpa made his bucket list declaration, she wondered: What if?
Crust wrote an email to a team vice president, wondering how her grandfather might be able to be a part of the Veterans Day celebration in 2013. She mentioned about how he'd opened up about his time in the Army, and how he and friends Epperson served with went back to see the places they'd been.
But Epperson is humble, and would never ask to be part of a Seahawks celebration.
"Wow," team vice president Mike Flood wrote back, "your grandfather has a tremendous record of military service. … If Robert is coming to the game, we would like to have him join our military guests pregame."
A few days after Sept. 11, 2013, the Seahawks ticket sales manager wrote back with his cell number. After they talked, a package came with tickets and field passes, a $20 food voucher, and a parking pass.
"It was so awesome because I never thought in a million years they would do that," Crust said that year. "I wasn't sure my email would even be seen to be honest, so didn't tell anyone I did it just in case."
Crust went to her grandfather's assisted living home told him about the Seahawks' offer.
"I was kneeling down in front of him and read the email to him," Crust said. "He was just looking down. He was very humble and so sweet."
He asked for a printed copy of the email, and shared it with the assisted living staff. Epperson called his three kids to share the story.
"He had this smile on his face like, 'Oh my gosh,'" Crust said.
Epperson went to the sidelines in his Seahawks jacket, and players treated him like royalty. Former Seahawks receiver Golden Tate came to visit him on the sidelines, as did others who thanked Epperson for his service. Team officials also helped make the day an unforgettable experience for Epperson, Crust and Crust's cousin, Brian Dressler. It was one of the last games he saw before deploying to Bahrain with the Coast Guard.
"He was so proud to be honored and shaking hands with the other veterans, thanking them for their service, this day he cherished to the very end," Epperson's family wrote in his obituary.
Epperson died March 6 in the loving arms of his daughter at the assisted living home where he'd stayed for two years. He was 90.
He was buried with military honors at Tahoma National Cemetery, and on Memorial Day his family remembered his service.
Epperson joined the Army as a 17-year-old during World War II and was part of the Famous Red Bull Division, 34th Inf. Reg., in Anzio, Italy, where he was injured twice and listed as missing in action. He served in several countries before returning to Fort Lewis.
But he never bragged about his awards or the life-changing experiences he'd had.
It wasn't until November 2013 – when Epperson was honored by the Seahawks – that he spoke in detail of his time in the Army, and his family learned the extent of his service.
"He was so proud to be honored and shaking hands with the other veterans, thanking them for their service," his family wrote of Epperson's day with the Seahawks. "This day he cherished to the very end."
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