Twins announce plans for Armed Forces Appreciation Day presented by Thomson Reuters

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL, MN – The Minnesota Twins and the Minnesota National Guard today announced plans for the 16th annual Armed Forces Appreciation Day, presented by Thomson Reuters, to honor veterans and active service members from all five branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. This year’s event, which will occur in conjunction with the Twins’ Sunday, July 7 game against the Texas Rangers at Target Field, will celebrate military members past, present and future.

Honoring the heroism and valor of “The Greatest Generation,” the Twins will recognize World War II veterans on this, the 75th anniversary of D-Day. In deep appreciation for the continued sacrifice of today’s military and their families, the club will also celebrate currently-deployed service members from throughout Twins Territory. Additionally, the Twins will spotlight members of Minnesota’s Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) programs – the future of our U.S. Armed Forces.

Thomson Reuters has generously donated 1,000 tickets for active and retired members of the U.S. Military, which have been distributed by the Military Family Assistance Centers throughout the state.

Through the “Seats for Soldiers” program, many Thomson Reuters Champions Club and Delta SKY360° Club season ticket holders, along with suite holders, have generously donated their seats and suites to wounded warriors and current service members and their families. Families of the Fallen, whose loved ones have served and died while on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States of America or its allies, will also be hosted in donated suites and seats.

In addition, active military members or veterans with a valid ID, plus up to three guests, can receive half-price Diamond Box High or Home Plate View tickets for the game, courtesy of FOX Sports North. (Available day of game only.)

"It is a pleasure to be coordinating with the Minnesota Twins for the 16th consecutive year of the Armed Forces Appreciation Day game," said Major General Jon Jensen, Adjutant General Minnesota National Guard. "This event honors military veterans of the past, recognizes those currently in service, and showcases those that will carry the torch of service for years to come."

A special pregame ceremony is planned prior to the 1:10 p.m. game against the Rangers. Fans are encouraged to arrive by 12:15 p.m. to see the pregame elements. See following page for Armed Forces Appreciation Day pregame elements.

Showcasing the in-ballpark events, FOX Sports North will televise “Operation Home Base” – a special, commercial-free Twins telecast event beginning at 12:30 p.m. that will pay tribute to the men and women across Twins Territory who serve our country, and tell the stories of the people and Minnesota organizations who support them and their families. The game will also be broadcast by the Armed Forces Network and will provide Minnesota National Guard members from St. Paul’s 34th Red Bull Infantry Division, currently stationed at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, the opportunity to be involved in the special day.

Starting at 12:20 p.m. special pregame elements will include:

• A parachute drop from the U.S. Army Special Operations Command’s Black Daggers Parachute Team, who will jump from a C-130 Hercules flown by the Minnesota National Guard’s 113rd Airlift Wing.
• A salute to Families of the Fallen, represented by Trevor Oliver, whose father, Staff Sgt. Travis Atkins of Coon Rapids, was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroics on June 1, 2007. While deployed in Iraq, Atkins was killed when he threw himself on top of a suicide bomber, sacrificing his own life to save three of his fellow soldiers.
• On-field ceremony recognizing several Minnesota veterans who served in World War II.
• Minnesotans’ Military Appreciation Fund (MMAF) Grants will be awarded to the following:
• Corporal Nathan Polansky of the 851st vertical Engineering Company, Minnesota Army National Guard, who recently returned home from deployment in Jordan and Kuwait.
• Specialist Cole Barthel, also of the 851st vertical Engineering Company, Minnesota Army National Guard, who recently returned home from deployment in Kuwait and Afghanistan.
• Commander Todd Ladwig, who served in Electronic Attack Squadron 131, U.S. Navy from 1998 to 2018, including deployments to the Persian Gulf, Qatar and Afghanistan.
• Captain Emily Applen of the 109th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Minnesota Air National Guard, who recently returned home from deployment in Qatar, Iraq and Afghanistan.
• Thomson Reuters will honor their military and veteran employees.
• Twins and Rangers players will be joined on the baselines for the National Anthem by members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard, along with members of JROTC programs from Park High School (Cottage Grove), Cretin-Derham Hall High School (St. Paul), Johnson Senior High School (St. Paul) and Como Park High School (St. Paul).
• A giant American flag will be unfurled by current service members, along with Twins employees who are veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces.
• The Twins Territory flag will be raised by Seth, Joey and Ruby Bell, children of Sergeant 1st Class Andrew Bell, currently deployed to Kuwait.
• The American flag will be raised by Captain Andrew Bundermann, a Distinguished Service Cross recipient for his efforts during the Battle of Kamdesh in Afghanistan on October 3, 2009.
• The Perkins Starting Lineup will consist of the spouses of nine Minnesota National Guard service members currently deployed with the 34th Infantry Division to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.
• The National Anthem will be performed by Army airborne ranger and veteran Jerod Thompson, and lead guitarist Todd Owen of JT & The Gunslingers.
• A flyover will feature a C-130 Hercules from the Minnesota National Guard’s 133rd Airlift Wing.
• Pregame and in-game performances by the Red Devil Rock Band from the third-floor balcony.

Tickets Available

Tickets for Armed Forces Appreciation Day and the remainder of the Twins 2019 home schedule are available via the MLB Ballpark App, at twinsbaseball.com, by calling 612-33-TWINS (612-338-9467) or 800-33-TWINS (800-338-9467), or in-person at the Target Field Ticket Office.