ENGLEWOOD — Ben Garland had no idea why his Denver Broncos teammates were leading him to an area where the media was congregating after practice.

Then Air Force Academy Association of Graduates president and CEO William Thompson stepped forward with two sabers. Then Garland was given an Air Force helmet. The former Falcons defensive lineman looked like he was having a hard time keeping it together.

Garland lost the two sabers that he bought from the Air Force Academy upon graduation and his helmet when his grandparents’ house burned in the Waldo Canyon fire in June. He thought the sabers could not be replaced. Now they have been.

“Thank you so much,” Garland said as he was presented the sabers by Thompson. “This means so much to my family.”

He was surrounded by 13 of his teammates, who clapped for him as he got the sabers and the helmet.

The gestures were a complete surprise to Garland.

“This means the world to me,” Garland said.

Garland tried to contact the AOG after the fire destroyed his grandparents’ house to ask about the sabers – each cadet is allowed two, and only two – but he’d always be mysteriously forwarded to someone else. Or the person he needed to talk to happened to be on vacation. The Broncos wanted to keep the surprise.

“We’re glad we were able to do something to put a smile on his face and his grandparents’ faces as well,” said linebacker Joe Mays, who pitched in on the sabers and will personally pay for the cases to display them.

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Ben Garland (63) is presented an Air Force helmet by his Broncos teammates, including linebacker Joe Mays (foreground). Garland’s helmet and sabers he got from Air Force upon graduation were lost in the Waldo Canyon Fire. Photo by FRANK SCHWAB, THE GAZETTE