Posted on 08/11/2005 4:54:04 PM PDT by SandRat
NEW YORK , N.Y., Aug. 11, 2005 – Sailors from Military Entrance Processing Station at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn, N.Y., represented the Navy as part of a combined Armed Forces Honor Guard Aug. 7 at the Chicago Cubs vs. New York Mets baseball game in front of 40,000 fans at Shea Stadium in Flushing, N.Y.
Along with personnel from the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard and Marines, the MEPS sailors formed an honor guard on the field behind home plate during the pre-game ceremony of the nationally-televised game. Marines from Marine Aerial Refueling Transport Squadron 452, located at Stewart Air National Guard Base, Newburgh, N.Y., also served as a color guard.
As part of the Mets tribute to the military, singing groups The Platters, The Coasters, and The Drifters performed some of their hits from the 50s and 60s, as well as the recent hit “Stand Up America” by Coasters vocalist and Long Island resident Dave Revels.
“We do this to support the men and women of the Armed Forces,” said Revels. “We have so much to give thanks for in this great nation of ours, and none of it would be possible without the service and sacrifices of these brave soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen.”
The MEPS Sailors were equally excited to participate in the pre-game festivities.
“I was honored to be a part of the ceremony,” said Operations Specialist 2nd Class Jason Brunsman, of Cincinnati, Ohio. “It’s a good feeling to know that the Mets organization appreciates and recognizes what we do in the military.”
“I really liked how they had everybody from all the branches of the military. All the flags, and all the men and women standing out there so proudly on the field,” said Mets fan Cristina Lucas-Martins, of Woodside, N.Y. “I grew up in Brazil, during a dictatorship. It is so nice to see how much America loves and supports its military.”
New York MEPS commanding officer, Cdr. Layne R. Boone had nothing but words of praise for her Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Air Force honor guard members.
“I’m so proud of these folks,” said Boone, “They work so hard and put in so much of their off-duty time to represent the Armed Forces in a positive light to the communities in which we live and work.”
The ceremony coincided with Purple Heart Day, the anniversary of General George Washington instituting the Badge of Military Merit on August 7, 1782. The Purple Heart is awarded to soldiers, aailors, Marines and airmen who have been wounded or killed in battle. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan extended eligibility to those service members that have been wounded or killed as a result of an international terrorist attack.
The mission of United States Military Entrance Processing Command and the New York MEPS is to process individuals for enlistment or induction into the armed services, based on Department of Defense-approved peacetime and mobilization standards.
Casey would be proud today.
Wow, great. Just wow.
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