November 11 is significant for the country for a major reason, but it’s a little more important for certain families. For the families of the people in service, Veterans Day is close to their hearts. Within the NBA community, a few grew up around vets and wouldn’t skip the day. After Charles Barkley, Cookie Johnson, Sonya Curry and others, Gabrielle Union had to honor the brave men in her family. One of them holds a special place in her life.

Sylvester “Cully” Union is known as Hollywood star, Gabrielle Union’s dad and NBA legend, Dwyane Wade’s father-in-law right now. But he was previously known as Sergeant S.C. Union. Cully served in the military and was often away during Union’s childhood. Despite the distance, her connection with her dad didn’t falter and she holds his service in high regard.

As she’s always done every November 11, Union made a heartfelt post to her father and the armed forces. “#HAPPYVETERANSDAY to my dad S.C. Union and all the other men and women who have bravely served our country. We thank you and we appreciate you,” she wrote on her Stories with a cool throwback to her dad in his uniform. He appears to be on duty though he’s standing on a beach in this picture.

Cully is diagnosed with dementia and according to his daughter, his condition is deteriorating. It’s given her the motivation to cherish memories of him and make more going forward.

In her early life, Union remembers her parents, Sylvester Union and Theresa Glass (a phone company employee and social worker) as examples of co-parenting and grace despite their divorce. Now Gab is adapting to her father’s condition and lapses in memories. Veterans Day is another way of celebrating her dad and his legacy. And it goes even longer than Cully Union.

Gabrielle Union celebrates her family’s legacy

Cully celebrated his 80th birthday in October, a week before Gab’s 52. They threw him a Hawaiian-themed party because he still remembers his time in Hawaii. His friends of many decades reunited at his birthday and Cully remembered their inside jokes. Gabrielle said he even recalled stories of her and her sister with their childhood friends.

He still thinks his son in law, Dwyane Wade, is playing in the NBA. Yet he’s able to joke like he’s still married to Gab’s mom.

He’s not the only vet Union looks up to. Gab’s grandfather, John Booker Glass, was a Nebraska native who served during World War II. Union reminisced about his service on Veteran’s Day in 2020, when his unit supported the gruelling operations in Philippines, Libya, and Italy. Her grandfather’s brother, Joe Glass, also served during the war.

Charles Barkley, who’s long held an admiration for the military services, made the rare Instagram post for Veterans Day. Even Magic Johnson’s wife, Cookie, made a special post for her sister, a veteran herself. D-Wade’s wife is among the many who gave the vets in her family the recognition they deserve.