PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers simply wanted to give back.

Seventy-five tri-state area military veterans — including 12 from the VA Butler Healthcare — gladly accepted their gratitude Monday evening at Heinz Field.

The Steelers and VA Healthcare combined forces to host the second annual Heroes at Heinz Field program, inviting veterans from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom to the stadium for some football interaction.

Each veteran and a guest toured the Coca-Cola Great Hall inside Heinz Field before joining participating Steelers on the field to take part in light-hearted placekicking, passing and receiving drills.

"The Steelers came up with this program last year as a unique way to say thank you to our veterans," said David Cowgill, public and community relations manager of VA Healthcare. "They recognize how vital our freedom is to professional sports."

Last year's program included 50 veterans. It was expanded to 75 this year and none was a repeat invitee. Veterans facilities in Pittsburgh, Butler, Erie, Altoona and Clarksburg, W. Va. took part in the program.

"Each facility is given the latitude to invite the veterans it feels would benefit from or enjoy the experience the most," Cowgill said. "We select all new people because we want as many veterans as possible to experience this."

Following an hour of football activities on the field and an autograph session, the veterans and guests were treated to dinner in a luxury box overlooking Heinz Field. Each veteran was given a Steelers Super Bowl cap and the players on hand Monday signed them.

"I love what they're doing here," Diana McCallister of Butler said. "This is a unique way to show their appreciation of our military."

McCallister is the niece of retired Marine Corps Master Sgt. Joe McCallister of Brentwood. He served in combat five times in a 27-year military career.

"Without our military, there would be no pro sports," Joe McCallister said. "And soldiers love being able to watch the NFL through the Armed Forces Network. That time is priceless to them."

Daniel MacGuire of Butler, who served 15 months in Iraq and was wounded there, echoes those sentiments.

"I'm a big Steelers fan, but I'd watch any game we could get on tape delay," he said. "I always hoped it was a game that could help get the Steelers to the playoffs somehow."

Jared Herstine of New Castle served in Iraq in 2004 and 2005 and has been treated for traumatic stress at VA Butler Healthcare Healthcare.

"This is so nice, being inside this stadium," he said. "I've never been to a game here. Just looking out at all these seats, how big it is ... I can't imagine what it's like on game day."

Justin Tyler, 23, of Tarentum suffered a brain injury while serving in Iraq in 2006.

"Meeting some of the players and looking up into the stands from the field ... It's neat to see Heinz Field from their perspective," Tyler said.

Steelers spending time with the veterans Monday included quarterback Charlie Batch, linebackers Lawrence Timmons and Patrick Bailey, punter Dan Sepulveda, long-snapper Greg Warren, safety Ryan Mundy and offensive linemen A.Q. Shipley, Kraig Urbik and Doug Legursky.

The players normally have Monday nights off and volunteered to participate in Monday's program.

"We're here because this is a rare chance for us to meet local veterans and visit with them," Batch said. "These people are heroes to everybody, including us.

"They have much more courage than we do. They put their lives on the line for our country. They deserve this."

And they appreciated the attention.

"It's awesome to see an organization as big and powerful as the Pittsburgh Steelers giving a night to recognize and honor us for what we do," Tyler said. "Nobody here is ever going to forget this."