Thank you to the men and women protecting our freedom
The weather sure didn't look good a couple hours before the game yesterday, as dark skies clashed with the pure white mountain caps. Fortunately dark skies vanished by game time with sun in their place to boot. Good thing because the Bees had a great night planned.
Just ahead of Air Force Week that starts on Monday, June 1, Spring Mobile Ballpark hosted Military Appreciation Night on Friday. The Bees honored military personnel in several ways. Military personnel could purchase 2-for-1 tickets and Bees players and coaches sported camouflage jerseys. What's more Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Dave Anderson threw a ceremonial first pitch and Hill Air Force Base Color Guard did a special presentation of the colors. An Apache helicopter fly-over capped pregame ceremonies.
Before the game, I was down in the dugout to get another pink helmet signed for charity. The players gladly obliged while they wondered about our second charity auction that will take place on July 4. Relief pitcher Daniel Davidson stopped me, earnestly asking about Military Appreciation Night and the Air Force Week to follow. "Are there going to be any service people that we can talk to?" he questioned. "Those people really intrigue me and have all of my respect."
I could not agree more. Based on his comments, Davidson and I share something in common. We are both very fortunate. Fortunate to be able to pursue our passion of sports while individuals like those present Friday are more courageous and awe-inspiring than we could ever fully appreciate. In full disclosure I don't know what kind of ties Davidson has to military personnel. He may be very close to a service member. Either way, I think the point still stands and it reminds me of a special opportunity I had some years back.
As a high school senior in fall 2002, I was still trying to make sense of 9-11 in my own way. Again I felt distant from the ramifications but I yearned to do something to express my gratitude to the heroes whose lives were and would be forever changed on American front lines.
In September 2002 my hometown held its annual festival with the theme "Red White and Blue in 2002." After meeting with officials from the USO and my chamber of commerce, I spearheaded a thank you campaign to the troops. Even though they were and continue to be what seems to be a million miles from home, I would think, I wanted someone to know that people back home cared very much about their service men and women.
In total my community wrote more than 1500 cards and several hundred online messages to the troops. I also had the great privilege of riding with a serviceman in a beautifully designed float. Looking back I remember a couple things off the top of my head. First, the serviceman informed me that I was riding in a humvee, not a Hummer as I originally thought.
The humvee was the real deal, not something you could buy at a dealership. Second, and even more relevant now, I remember that the man had to be in his mid-twenties. That hits home today, as does my brief exchange with Salt Lake pitcher Daniel Davidson.
I'm in my twenties and could easily be in a service uniform. Instead, I'll be basking in the ballpark tomorrow, during Air Force Week just around the corner and for the rest of the season. Thanks to the men and women serving our country for making it possible for Davidson and me to have our freedom in Salt Lake City.
Sam Miller / Salt Lake Bees
Just ahead of Air Force Week that starts on Monday, June 1, Spring Mobile Ballpark hosted Military Appreciation Night on Friday. The Bees honored military personnel in several ways. Military personnel could purchase 2-for-1 tickets and Bees players and coaches sported camouflage jerseys. What's more Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Dave Anderson threw a ceremonial first pitch and Hill Air Force Base Color Guard did a special presentation of the colors. An Apache helicopter fly-over capped pregame ceremonies.
Before the game, I was down in the dugout to get another pink helmet signed for charity. The players gladly obliged while they wondered about our second charity auction that will take place on July 4. Relief pitcher Daniel Davidson stopped me, earnestly asking about Military Appreciation Night and the Air Force Week to follow. "Are there going to be any service people that we can talk to?" he questioned. "Those people really intrigue me and have all of my respect."
I could not agree more. Based on his comments, Davidson and I share something in common. We are both very fortunate. Fortunate to be able to pursue our passion of sports while individuals like those present Friday are more courageous and awe-inspiring than we could ever fully appreciate. In full disclosure I don't know what kind of ties Davidson has to military personnel. He may be very close to a service member. Either way, I think the point still stands and it reminds me of a special opportunity I had some years back.
As a high school senior in fall 2002, I was still trying to make sense of 9-11 in my own way. Again I felt distant from the ramifications but I yearned to do something to express my gratitude to the heroes whose lives were and would be forever changed on American front lines.
In September 2002 my hometown held its annual festival with the theme "Red White and Blue in 2002." After meeting with officials from the USO and my chamber of commerce, I spearheaded a thank you campaign to the troops. Even though they were and continue to be what seems to be a million miles from home, I would think, I wanted someone to know that people back home cared very much about their service men and women.
In total my community wrote more than 1500 cards and several hundred online messages to the troops. I also had the great privilege of riding with a serviceman in a beautifully designed float. Looking back I remember a couple things off the top of my head. First, the serviceman informed me that I was riding in a humvee, not a Hummer as I originally thought.
The humvee was the real deal, not something you could buy at a dealership. Second, and even more relevant now, I remember that the man had to be in his mid-twenties. That hits home today, as does my brief exchange with Salt Lake pitcher Daniel Davidson.
I'm in my twenties and could easily be in a service uniform. Instead, I'll be basking in the ballpark tomorrow, during Air Force Week just around the corner and for the rest of the season. Thanks to the men and women serving our country for making it possible for Davidson and me to have our freedom in Salt Lake City.
Sam Miller / Salt Lake Bees
Well said Sam! It's important to remember that the freedom we enjoy as Americans doesn't come for free. I too feel tremendous gratitude and respect for the men and women who serve in our military forces . . BeesGal
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