Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Megan Crusher | Tech. Sgt. Cassandra Montgomery, non-commissioned officer in charge, commander’s...... read more read more
SAN DIEGO - For the first time in the history of the Padres’ Air Force Appreciation Day, Airmen from March Air Reserve Base participated in the event.
On Sunday the San Diego Padres hosted the Los Angeles Dodgers and more than 100 Team March Airmen, comprised of Reserve, active duty and guard members, lined the bases in a pre-game ceremony celebrating the Air Force.
“This year’s Air Force day was much more robust than in year’s past because for the first time we included Airmen from both the active and reserve components, the Air National Guard, as we well as cadets from the San Diego State Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps and volunteers from the Civil Air Patrol,” said Mike Berentson, director of military affairs for the Padres.
March’s Blue Eagle Total Force Honor Guard was on hand to post the colors while Tech. Sgt. Cassandra Montgomery, non-commissioned officer in charge, 452nd wing commander's support staff, 452 Air Mobility Wing, sang the national anthem to a crowd of more than 37,000 fans. While not the first event Montgomery has sang at, this was her first time singing to a crowd this size.
“I was representing something ultimately bigger than myself,” said Montgomery. She goes on to say, “It was great and calming to see my fellow Airmen lining the bases and the Honor Guard at the pitching mound representing as well.”
Throwing out the ceremonial first pitch was Brig. Gen. John C. Flournoy, Jr., commander, 4th Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command. Flournoy also conducted a mass enlistment of ROTC cadets and new recruits as part of the pre-game festivities.
452 Air Mobility Wing, Command Chief, Chief Master Sgt. Timothy C. White, celebrity bell-ringer for Sunday’s game, gave the cue for the Padres to take the field and start the game. The Mission Bell, a unique tradition at Petco Park, is a 700-pound bell that is rung three times signifying the start of the game.
As the Padres players took the field, five Team March Airmen were waiting to greet them at their positions.
“Taking the field made me feel like a little kid again. It brought back all the childhood dreams of playing baseball at a higher level,” said Senior Master Sgt. Donald Branscum, 1st Sgt., 452 Civil Engineer Squadron.
The third inning yielded a big surprise for one Team March family that was in attendance Sunday. Deployed Team March member, Captain Tony Gole, KC-135 Stratotanker pilot with the 912th Air Refueling Squadron, sent a video message to his family, which the Padres played on the Jumbotron.
“It was incredible to see Tony on the big screen,” said Sara Gole, spouse of Gole. “Our oldest daughter cried and our youngest daughter thought Daddy was in the stadium. Our son was so shocked but incredibly happy. He told me it was like Daddy was a movie star.”
The Padres donated more than 450 tickets to March ARB Airmen and their families for Sunday’s game.
“This was a great opportunity to partner with March and educate the community about the thousands of Air Force reservists who live and work in San Diego and serve right up the road at March Air Reserve Base,” said Berentson.
| Date Taken: | 08.31.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 09.02.2014 20:07 |
| Story ID: | 140991 |
| Location: | SAN DIEGO, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 354 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Padres honor Team March Airmen during Air Force Appreciation Day, by Capt. Bari Wald, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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