A special mission took flight in Oklahoma this week.

As part of the NFL's Salute to Service initiative, four Dallas Cowboys players, four cheerleaders and team staff boarded military Blackhawk helicopters in Frisco, heading straight into the heart of Army country to honor the men and women who serve.

What normally transports soldiers into battle instead carried a message of gratitude.

Players and cheerleaders lifted off from The Star in Frisco, watching the city fade below as they traveled north toward Fort Sill, Oklahoma—home to thousands of active-duty soldiers and their families.

For Cowboys cheerleader Ava Lahey, the moment didn't feel real.

"This is a dream come true and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us," she said.

The aircraft—loud, powerful, unmistakably military—made

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