Annual Walter Reed visit 'humbling' for Mets

WASHINGTON -- David Wright sat and listened as a 19-year-old war veteran, who had just returned from Afghanistan three days earlier, related the details of his injury to the Mets third baseman.

"To just see his spirits -- I think they enjoy talking about their injuries, telling their stories, what's going on there," Wright said. "To be able to sit down and listen to these first-hand accounts with guys that are protecting us and serving our country, it goes without saying that it puts things in perspective."

Wright's conversation was just one snapshot from the Mets' annual visit to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. The entire team makes the pilgrimage there once per year, in a trip that grew out of owner Fred Wilpon's commitment to military causes.

"It's always a humbling experience," second baseman Daniel Murphy said. "It's very humbling to see what men and women are able and willing to give up. And then one of the reoccurring themes of it is that each one of them would do it all over again, even if they knew the outcome. To me, that speaks volumes as to the character of the individuals in there."

"There's probably nothing else that I could say that hasn't been said before," Wright said. "That trip is something I really look forward to."