Jets Honor Military Families Ahead Of The Holidays
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- 'Tis the season to be jolly, and for the family of U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Donza Taylor, it's, thankfully, the season to be together.
He's been deployed overseas, but he's home for the holidays, CBS2's Otis Livingston reported.
And his daughter Linda couldn't be happier.
"I really don't see him," she said. "So it's like one of those fairy tale movies. And I'm one of those princesses, and then my dad comes home, and it's very happy. It's like happy ever after."
To create the "happy ever after," the Atlantic Health Jets Women's Organization hosted the Taylors and 17 other military families in a holiday-themed appreciation event at the Jets' practice facility in Florham Park.
After watching practice, the kids decorated gingerbread houses and went through the obstacle course, surely working up a sweat while the mothers caught a break, getting pampered.
"Wonderful time," said Dawn Taylor. "Massage, my makeup, had a facial, tips on makeup, my nails -- wonderful. "No kids' -- I think that was the best part."
"It sends an instant message to your heart, like people, they really care about what we do when we're serving and protecting and we're in the harm's way," Donza Taylor said.
And of course, there was a visit by St. Nick, who looked a lot like St. Nick Mangold.
"I think I was typecast," said Mangold, the Jets' center. "But it also goes into my jolly disposition that obviously I think I make a great Santa."
"I'm a die-hard Giants fan," Donza Taylor admitted, but he added, "It's going to make me root for the Jets, definitely. I was just telling my son that. I said, 'Wow, this is really nice to see the organization and see the players and the general manager. I'm definitely going to root for the Jets now."
The Jets are also sending care packages to service members overseas and giving mothers presents to give to their kids on Christmas Day.
