'Tributes for Heroes' winners set for ASG
SAN FRANCISCO -- Major League Baseball and PEOPLE magazine on Wednesday announced the 30 winners of the "Tribute for Heroes" campaign, a national initiative that recognizes veterans and military service members and which builds upon both organizations' commitment to honoring our country's heroes.
All of the winners, including Gil Calac, the Giants' representative from White Swan, Wash., will be included in All-Star Week festivities (private tour of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, a VIP reception on the Intrepid, All-Star Red Carpet Show Presented by Chevrolet, Chevrolet Home Run Derby) and will attend and be honored during the pregame ceremony leading up to the 2013 All-Star Game at Citi Field, which airs Tuesday on FOX beginning at 4:30 pm PT.
Inspiring stories include heroes from multiple branches of the Armed Forces ranging in ages from 26 to 92 years old (World War II through Afghanistan) .
Along with MLB and PEOPLE, a guest panel including Giants starter Barry Zito assisted in the selection process for the 90 finalists, who were then voted on by fans to select the 30 winners.
The "Tribute For Heroes" campaign supports Welcome Back Veterans, an initiative of Major League Baseball and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, which addresses the needs of veterans after they return from service. Major League Baseball has committed more than $23 million for grants to hospitals and clinics that provide post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) treatment to veterans and their families in a public/private partnership with "Centers of Excellence" at university hospitals throughout the country.
The list of "Tribute For Heroes" winners and their full stories can be found at TributeForHeroes.com.