Mariners honor those who serve our nation in military and as first responders
The Seattle Mariners are paying tribute to the men and women who serve our nation as members of the U.S. military and those who serve our communities as first responders on Friday, September 10, and Saturday, September 11, when the Arizona Diamondbacks come to town.
Salute to Armed Forces Night
The Mariners once again join with our partners at The Boeing Company for the annual Salute to Armed Forces Night. The first 15,000 fans will receive a Mariners military cap, courtesy of Boeing.
During a pregame ceremony, personnel from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force, Washington National Guard, Veterans of Foreign Wars, USO Northwest, American Legion and Disabled American Veterans will be introduced and line up on the baselines.
Service persons of the year from six branches of the military will throw ceremonial first pitches:
- Rear Admiral Brad Collins, U.S Navy
- Colonel Derek (Shane) Finison, U.S. Army
- Captain John Schoberl IV, U.S. Marine Corps
- Machinery Technician 1 Jacob Aping, U.S. Coast Guard
- Technical Sergeant Kristen Ogard, Washington National Guard:
- Colonel Brian P. Collins, U.S. Air Force
The Mariners will also present an award to the Washington National Guard for their dedication to serving our nation and our communities in times of need, whether it is deploying to a combat zone or assisting with recovery from wild fires or natural disasters.
Mid-way through the second inning, the Mariners will pay tribute to WWII veteran John Kenny. He enlisted in the Army at age 17 and fought in the battles of Leyte and Luzon in the Philippines and served during U.S. occupation of Japan. After leaving the Army, Kenny helped organize a Troop Support program with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2995 that helped send over 22,800 care packages to troops overseas.
Specially priced tickets are available through an online only offer. Tickets are $8 for View Level, $18 for Main Level and $30 for Club Level. All tickets purchased through the special offer come with a collectable coin. Deadline to purchase through the offer is Friday, September 10 at 5:00 p.m. only at Mariners.com/Military.
Salute to First Responders
On Saturday, September 11, the 20th Anniversary of 9/11, the Mariners will join with public safety departments from around the greater Puget Sound area to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks in 2001, and salute the men and women who continue to serve our communities and country.
Over 80 representatives from local police and fire departments will participate in the pregame ceremony. Seattle Fire Department Pipes & Drums will perform Amazing Grace_, followed by a moment of silence. The _National Anthem will be performed by a duo from Seattle Police and Seattle Fire, and God Bless America will be performed by Marysville Firefighter Keith Taylor.
The game’s ceremonial first pitch will be delivered by Michael Virgilio, a decorated Marine Corps veteran who has served as a Seattle Police patrol officer for the past 12. Virgilio was inspired to enlist in the military after his uncle, a New York City firefighter, was killed in the terrorist attacks on 9/11. He deployed three times as a U.S. Marine and received a Purple Heart.
Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz and Seattle Fire Chief Harold Scoggins will be honored during the game as Hometown Heroes.
In addition, all Mariners and Diamondbacks players, coaches and managers, as well as umpires, will wear “We Shall Not Forget” patches on their caps and sleeves. The logo will also appear on lineup cards and bases.