Airman presents flag to SBHS tennis team

Air Force Senior Airman Matthew Sanchez is seen shaking hands with San Benito High School Tennis Coach Dan Hirst as his team looks on. Sanchez visited with the team at the high school tennis court on Thursday to express his appreciation for the athletes sending him a care package and personalized letters. Those shown with the airman in the group photo include (top row, left to right) his father and SBHS Assistant Principal Henry Sanchez, Vicky Sanchez (Matthew’s mother), Assist. Coach Jose Torres, Catalina Hernandez, Cristina Estrella, Christopher Perez, Marco Vega, Esteban Casas, Ivan Prado, Daniel Garcia, Gabriel Mendez, Victor Guerrero, Fernando Garcia, Hirst and Nicholas Sanchez (Mathew’s brother). At bottom (left to right), Elise Garcia, Melissa De Los Santos, Astrid Gonzalez, Brittany Mendez, Matthew Sanchez, David Mendoza and Elizabeth Medina are seen. (Photos by Francisco E. Jimenez and Cecilia Gonzales)

Air Force Senior Airman Matthew Sanchez is seen shaking hands with San Benito High School Tennis Coach Dan Hirst as his team looks on. Sanchez visited with the team at the high school tennis court on Thursday to express his appreciation for the athletes sending him a care package and personalized letters. Those shown with the airman in the group photo include (top row, left to right) his father and SBHS Assistant Principal Henry Sanchez, Vicky Sanchez (Matthew’s mother), Assist. Coach Jose Torres, Catalina Hernandez, Cristina Estrella, Christopher Perez, Marco Vega, Esteban Casas, Ivan Prado, Daniel Garcia, Gabriel Mendez, Victor Guerrero, Fernando Garcia, Hirst and Nicholas Sanchez (Mathew’s brother). At bottom (left to right), Elise Garcia, Melissa De Los Santos, Astrid Gonzalez, Brittany Mendez, Matthew Sanchez, David Mendoza and Elizabeth Medina are seen. (Photos by Francisco E. Jimenez and Cecilia Gonzales)

By CECILIA GONZALES and DAVID LOPEZ
Special to the NEWS

Matthew Sanchez pic2-5-26-13Upon arriving home, U.S. soldiers tend to have family and friends to look forward to, but Air Force Senior Airman Matthew Sanchez was sure to make visiting the San Benito High School Tennis team a priority on Thursday.

The team gifted Sanchez with a care package, which included personalized letters from the students and coach plus additional items such as snacks and hygiene products.

“Despite the various groups of people who sent me care packages, these students actually wrote to me with intentional prayers, which made them the group who I felt the most personal tie to,” Sanchez said.

The favor was returned when Sanchez rewarded the students’ generosity with quite the honor: an American flag signed by his aircrew, including his best friend, who perished in combat. He also presented the team a picture of the aircraft he was involved with and another member of his platoon.

“My best friend’s death marked the most significant event of my tour in Afghanistan, so I decided to present the flag as a token of gratitude,” he said. “That flag meant more to me than anything I brought back from Afghanistan.”

The idea for adopting a soldier came when tennis coach Dan Hirst spoke with the airman’s father, Assistant Principal Henry Sanchez, in an emotional exchange.

“I was on my way to talk to Mr. Sanchez about regular business, but he looked pretty stern and solemn when I came in,” said coach Hirst. “After waiting, he said, ‘Sorry, but my son is in Afghanistan.’ We went on about regular business, but afterwards, the idea just came to me. My kids loved the idea, and later Mr. Sanchez gave me his son’s address.”

The students wrote to Matthew regarding their gratitude for his services and their concerns for his safety.

“It was an amazing feeling being able to comfort one of our soldiers coming over from Afghanistan,” said Tennis Team Captain Brittany Mendez. “I was really surprised and grateful that he came to visit us and for us being able to thank him in person for everything he has done.”

Sanchez is getting ready to ship off to Georgia, where he will be stationed for the next three months before his next deployment.

Editor’s Note: Cecilia Gonzales and David Lopez are senior journalism students at San Benito High School. In the fall, Lopez plans to attend Emerson College in Boston to study journalism while Gonzales will attend the University of Texas in Austin, where she will also study journalism.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2013/05/25/airman-presents-flag-to-sbhs-tennis-team/

1 comment

    • Loca-Greyhound on May 25, 2013 at 10:49 am
    • Reply

    What a beautiful story. God bless the San Benito Tennis team, their coach, and the Sanchez family. Matthew, may the Lord keep you safe from all harm and I thank you for your service to our country. I’m deeply sorry about your best friend.

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