Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Mary Junell | Army Maj. Gen. Greg Lusk, adjutant general of North Carolina, talks with recently...... read more read more
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SHELBY, N.C. - Maj. Gen. Greg Lusk, adjutant general of North Carolina, honored two Vietnam-era Medal of Honor recipients and threw out the first pitch on day three of the 2013 American Legion Baseball World Series in Shelby, N.C., Aug. 18, 2013.
The American Legion, the nation’s largest wartime veterans service organization, designated the third day of the series as Military Appreciation Day and presented every veteran in attendance with a baseball cap, a challenge coin that had the words "Thank you" inscribed on the back and free admission into Veteran’s Field-Keeter Stadium for the Aug. 18 games and celebrations. All the teams playing that day wore special camouflage uniforms in honor of the Armed Services and veterans.
Both Medal of Honor recipients, retired Col. Walter Marm, Jr., and retired Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Patterson, took the field with Lusk before game nine of the series as part of the day’s opening festivities and were presented with a coin. Both men were met with standing ovations after the citations for their awards were read over the load speaker.
Lusk was humbled to have the opportunity to meet the two heroes and recognize the Medal of Honor recipients for their selfless actions.
“By recognizing them and telling their story over and over it resonates and stays a part of the fabric of our culture,” Lusk said. “And while we may not be faced with the same events as these men, we are faced with challenges everyday and must decide how to respond with honor and character. Perhaps knowing the stories of these men will help us make the right decisions.”
In addition to Lusk, many other North Carolina National Guard soldiers participated in the day’s celebration, including 2nd Lt. William Henderson, a platoon leader with B Battery, 5th Battalion, 113th Field Artillery, whose soldiers were supporting the World Series with static displays of equipment.
Henderson, of Durham, N.C., said it was a great thing to have the Medal of Honor recipients honored at the game.
“In some form or fashion by honoring them, we are honoring all veterans of past wars,” Henderson said. “Some not only gave their time and service but some paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country.”
Guardsmen participating in these types of events give the citizens within North Carolina an opportunity to thank their local veterans and connect with the military.
“It shows the citizens of North Carolina that as the North Carolina National Guard, we do our part just as well as the active duty side,” Henderson said. “And, we can relate more to the community because we are citizen-soldiers.”
Lusk hopes that being present at events like this will remind North Carolina citizens that the North Carolina National Guard is still here and ready to serve them.
“The connection between the American people and it’s military is becoming wider all the time,” Lusk said. “It’s important that we continue to maintain that connectivity. Nothing does that better than showing them our service members and our equipment.”
Baseball is often referred to as the great American pastime and Lusk thought it was a perfect event to both honor our veterans and connect with our local communities.
“There is nothing more American than the great American pastime of baseball and the great American tradition of Military service; they are inseparable,” Lusk said. “It’s a perfect combination that we are here today.”
| Date Taken: | 08.18.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 08.26.2013 18:09 |
| Story ID: | 112621 |
| Location: | SHELBY, NC, US |
| Hometown: | DURHAM, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 55 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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