January 24, 2025

Legionnaire surprised with two tickets to Super Bowl

By Nick Palmisciano
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Legionnaire surprised with two tickets to Super Bowl

Maine’s Matthew Jabaut presented the tickets by New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye on behalf of USAA.

“What’s your favorite sport?” I asked Matthew Jabaut, The American Legion’s National Veterans Employment & Education Commission chairman.

“Football!” he answered emphatically.

“Well, that’s interesting, because there’s been something I’ve been meaning to ask you …” I started.

That’s when a meaty hand found on its way onto Matthew’s shoulder. Startled, especially given that he was in mid-interview with cameras running everywhere, he turned around to come eye-to-eye with New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye.

“Oh my God …” was his response as he jumped to his feet to greet the man he’d watched all season on television.

“On behalf of USAA, I’d like to offer you two tickets to the Super Bowl!” Drake said with a huge grin on his face.

From there on out, my work was done, and the wonderful staff from USAA and The American Legion took over. Matthew gave Drake a tour of the historic Portland Maine Post 17, which has been in place since 1919. We saw photos of John Wayne visiting the post. We learned that Whitney Houston filmed a movie there. Drake then threw the football with Matthew, complimenting both his throwing and catching skills, which we will likely never hear the end of (he’s texted fellow Patriots fans Mark Seavey and myself twice about it already). But then, after soaking in a little bit of time for himself with Drake, he switched gears and did what Matthew always does - he educated everyone about the Legion.

So while a very classy Drake Maye took the time to shake hands, speak with and take photos with every single veteran present, Matthew talked about the Legion’s veteran assistance programs, youth programs and history. I think somewhere in there he may have even paid for Drake to join the Sons of The American Legion, but I’m not sure because at that point, Matthew had Drake pinned in a corner with no way of escaping until he passed a 37-question test on the Legion.

While that’s obviously a joke, it’s very obvious why USAA and The American Legion chose Matthew for this honor: From the second I landed in Maine, until the second I left (even after he realized I was there as a decoy and not primarily to interview members of the Maine Legion), he put me to work.

The day before Drake Maye gave Matthew two Super Bowl tickets, I arrived in Portland with my three-man crew. Fifteen minutes later, we were on a two-hour drive to a post that Matthew was proud of and wanted interviewed. Three hours later, we were on our way to another that was 45 minutes away. We left there at 9 p.m., and Matthew had a third he wanted us to visit, but thankfully, Department of Maine Adjutant Jason Hall saved us and told him maybe it was time to call it a night.

Matthew was a little frustrated, worried that some of the great Legionnaires from his state wouldn’t get their time in the sun, but he acquiesced only after we agreed to visit that post and two others the next day after we interviewed him at Post 17.

So we did.

And when Drake Maye finally left, and the excitement of the Super Bowl tickets given to him by USAA was absorbed, he suddenly got very serious. “You’re still going to go visit those posts and interview them, right? It’s really important to them.”

 “Of course we are,” I responded. We loaded up the vehicles and followed Matthew around the great state of Maine until night fell, all the fast food restaurants were closed, and we welcomed the next day.

There are a lot of great members of The American Legion that probably deserve two tickets to the Super Bowl for the incredible work they do for their posts, their states and their communities. But i will tell you this: Matthew Jabaut left no doubt that he was one of them.

Congratulations to Matthew. Thanks to the Jason Hall, to Joe Rich from Post 17, to Drake Maye from the New England Patriots and his lovely bride-to-be for giving all of us so much of your attention, and to USAA for looking out for the men and women who look out for veterans. It was a fantastic event.

Watch Maye’s visit with Jabaut on X or on Instagram.

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