Parnell honored to wear special Memorial Day uniform

NEW YORK -- Memorial Day has extra meaning for Mets closer Bobby Parnell. With a best friend currently serving in the Marine Corps, Parnell appreciated the opportunity to wear a special uniform honoring the military on Monday night.

"I think it's awesome," Parnell said. "I think it's a good tribute to the men and women who serve this country. I think it's fun to do. It's a good gesture."

Along with the rest of Major League Baseball, the Mets are wearing caps and jerseys with an authentic military digital camouflage design, which is licensed from the United States Marine Corps. Major League Baseball will donate all of the proceeds from the sale of the caps and jerseys to Welcome Back Veterans.

"I think they look good," Parnell said. "I think it's a good blend. I'll be honored to wear it."

Monday's event continues the Mets' weekend of honoring the servicemen and women around the world. New York held its sixth annual Military Appreciation Night on Sunday in conjunction with the USO of Metropolitan New York. About 5,000 military personnel and their families attended Sunday night's game against the Braves with tickets donated by the Mets.

Before Monday's game, lieutenant JG Yvonne Zirrith of the United States Navy sang the national anthem. And Joey Falcone, a sophomore baseball player at Columbia and USMC veteran, threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Falcone is the son of former Mets pitcher Pete Falcone. Joey Falcone served as a Marine Corps medic from 2004-10, and completed two tours of duty in Iraq in 2007 and '08. He also spent a tour in Afghanistan in '09.

Pete Falcone caught the first pitch from his son on Monday night.