Pence picks up two war heroes in Air Force Two en route to the Super Bowl - but before another stop for a $7 pulled pork sandwich

  • VP Mike Pence flew two wounded soldiers and their guests to the Super Bowl
  • Marine Staff Sargent Anthony Mannino, Jr and Army Staff Sargent Frederick Manning attended
  • Mannino wounded in Iraq in 2008, Manning was wounded in Afghanistan in 2016
  • Pence flew them aboard Air Force Two and they stopped for Texas BBQ en route
  • Pence said gift was 'a small token of the gratitude of the people of this country' 

By Forrest Hanson For Dailymail.com

Published: 21:30 EST, 5 February 2017 | Updated: 22:13 EST, 5 February 2017

Vice President Mike Pence took some unexpected guests to the Super Bowl today - and even stopped to try some local Houston barbeque.

He was spotted at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, where he met with two wounded soldiers and their guests to escort them to the football game.

He characterized the special trip as a 'small token of the gratitude of the people of this country.'

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Mike Pence took wounded veterans Anthony Mannino, Jr, and Frederick Manning to the Super Bowl. Mannino, who was injured in Iraq, brought his wife Diane while Manning, who was injured in Afghanistan, brought his nurse Charles Stanley

Pence flew the veterans and their guests aboard Air Force Two. He characterized the special trip as a 'small token of the gratitude of the people of this country'

He added: 'We're honored you're with us,' The Hill reported.

Pence flew Marine Staff Sargeant Anthony Mannino, Jr, and Army Staff Sargeant Frederick Manning aboard Air Force Two.

Mannino, who was wounded in Iraq in 2008, brought his wife Diane while Manning, who was injured in Afghanistan in 2016, brought his nurse, Army Sargeant First Class Charles Stanley.

Pence said he's neutral in the game's outcome, as an Indianapolis Colts fan. But Mannino is hoping for a Patriots win and Manning is rooting for the Falcons

While Pence, as an Indianapolis Colts fan, said he'll remain neutral in the outcome of the game between the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots, each sargeant is rooting for a different team.

Mannino is hoping for a Patriots win, while Manning is rooting for the Falcons. 

Pence said: 'There'll be a winner on this plane on the way back.'

The group was later spotted at an outpost of barbeque chain Pappas BBQ, near Hobby Airport where the group landed.

Pence wrote on Twitter: 'Anyone who knows the Pence family knows we can't pass up good BBQ.'

He'd said he'd heard Pappas was 'the place to come,' the Houston Chronicle reported. 

He ordered a pulled pork sandwich with a side of barbeque sauce, costing around $7, the Indianapolis Star reported.

The group was later spotted at an outpost of barbeque chain Pappas BBQ, near Hobby Airport where the group landed. Pence ordered a pulled pork sandwich with a side of BBQ sauce

Pappas BBQ has 16 restaurants across the Houston metropolitan area and was founded in 1967. 

They went to a location at the Gulf Freeway and Monroe Boulevard before heading to NRG Stadium to watch the game.

Pence also took a photo with George Bush Sr, who was recently released from hospital

Pence loves American chain restaurants.

He caused a minor controversy when he was seen dining at a Chili's in in Teterboro, New Jersey outside New York this July.

Pence found himself in Chili's at 4pm after his private jet flight back to Indianapolis was delayed for an hour.

However, New Yorkers demanded to know why Pence had picked a Chili's outside Teterboro, New Jersey rather than one of the many famed restaurants in the Big Apple, one of the culinary capitals of the world.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is going with the favorites for this year's Super Bowl.

Trump told Fox News host Bill O'Reilly that he is picking his good friend Tom Brady and the New England Patriots to win the big game on Sunday.

The Pats are only favored to win by three points against the Atlanta Falcons at NRG Stadium in Houston on Sunday.

For Trump, though, he think New England will come out on top by eight points. 

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