Gibson remembers father on Memorial Day

PHOENIX -- D-backs manager Kirk Gibson always thinks of his late father, Robert, on Memorial Day.

Robert Gibson served on the U.S.S Missouri, and it's one of the reasons Gibson demands that his players all be on the top step of the dugout each game for the playing of the national anthem.

"I'm pretty staunch about us standing up on the front step, showing our respects," Gibson said. "We're very fortunate and very grateful that we live in a country like this with people willing to do that. They're doing that to protect our freedom and letting us all do what we do every day. We're fortunate."

Gibson said he hoped that people remember the servicemen and women who were injured while serving and now require care.

"There's great initiative and great conviction in our community and our country to honor these people and help them when they come back, because it messes many of them up," Gibson said. "We should all feel good about that, but we should all, I think on this day, make sure that we remain determined to take care of them. They're taking care of us every day."

D-backs right-hander Josh Collmenter, whose grandfather served in the Air Force and whose brother is currently in the Marine Corps. hung a large American flag from his locker. Something he does on Memorial Day as well as on the Fourth of July.