In recognition of the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, the Washington Nationals will honor first responders and service members during several activations when the Club takes on the Los Angeles Angels on Friday at 6:45 p.m. The Nationals’ remembrance will include a memorial stair run by the Marine Barracks Washington, the Patriotic Series: Heroes Day and the annual Fallen Heroes Tribute.
On the morning of Friday, Sept. 11, the Nationals will host more than 60 members of the Guard Company at Marine Barracks Washington for a memorial stair run at Nationals Park. In remembrance of the thousands of steps first responders climbed on Sept. 11, 2001, Guard Company Marines will honor those who ran toward danger and who gave the ultimate sacrifice. The Guard Company Marines stand watch of the Oldest Post of the Corps and protect key Marine Corps and Navy leaders in the Nation’s capital 24 hours, 365 days a year.
Additionally, the Nationals will host Heroes Day, the final installment of the Patriotic Series, in recognition of the Sept. 11 tragedy and to honor first responders who answered the call on that day and every day since. Heroes Day will feature special programming and pregame assets, including the national anthem by Metropolitan Police Officer Brittany Shakir; and a ceremonial first pitch by retired U.S. Army Special Service Force officer David K. King Jr., a survivor of the attack on the Pentagon. A special Salute to Service will also be recognized during the end of the third inning.
Before the start of the game, the Nationals will recognize the 184 individuals who were killed in the attack at the Pentagon with a special tribute on the video board. Additionally, 184 seats in Section 107 will remain reserved and draped in bunting in remembrance of those 184 individuals.
As part of the Club’s annual Fallen Heroes Tribute, established in 2016, the Nationals will honor local first responders who fell in the line of duty in the last year. Family members of Police Officer Terry L. Bennett, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department; Firefighter Technician Paula E. Brown, DC Fire and EMS; Corporal Barry James Foust, Arlington County Police Department; Master Police Officer Donald Richard Gotthardt, Jr., Fairfax County Police Department; Firefighter and Paramedic Demair Lloyd, Prince George’s County Fire and EMS Department; Battalion Fire Chief Keith T. Long, DC Fire and EMS; Probationary Firefighter Sadia Williams, DC Fire and EMS; and Firefighter Larry Wright, Arlington Fire and EMS will be recognized in a special pregame ceremony and remain on the field for the national anthem. The children from the honored families will also join together to make the call to “Play Ball!” before the start of the game. The names of the eight fallen heroes will be memorialized by plaques on dedicated seats in Section 130.
To learn more about the Nationals’ military initiatives, visit Nationals.com/Military. To purchase tickets to a Nationals home game, visit Nationals.com/Tickets.