Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Sinthia Rosario | U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Daniel Vargas, a Navy SEAL and a player for the U.S....... read more read more
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WHITE CENTER, Wash. - The song "Old Glory" resonates throughout the baseball field as the members of the U.S. Military All Stars baseball team proudly stand at attention, during a traditional pregame ceremony at the Steve Cox Memorial Park at White Center, Washington, June 19.
This ceremony shows what the U.S. Military All Stars, which are composed of active duty service members and veterans from different military branches, value the most and holds true in their hearts.
“We have the opportunity to honor the veterans that came before us, the men and women that led the way for us to have the ability to serve,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Russell Pablo, a weather forecaster, 25th Operational Weather Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, and player for the U.S. Military All Stars. “It’s inspiring. I’ve always been a man of honor, those kind of things are really special to me and to continue to uphold these traditions means a lot to me.”
The pregame ceremony included a Passing of the U.S. flag, the Walk of Honor, which honors those who have valiantly served the nation, and the first pitch.
Russell demonstrated a sense of pride and excitement during the ceremony, especially knowing his father, Ed Pablo, was taking part in it.
Old Glory, the U.S. flag, was passed to the senior Pablo, a retired U.S. Army 1st Sgt., who stood at attention on the pitcher’s mound in anticipation. Slowly, the he began to move forward carrying the flag toward his son, Russell, who was waiting at the home plate.
The U.S. Military All Stars team, rendered formal salutes as Ed walked by with Old Glory in his hands. At the same time, their opposing team, the Highline Bears from White Center, removed their hats to show their respect.
As Ed completed the Walk of Honor, he faced his son and proudly passed him the flag.
Historically during the ceremonies, the flag held a unique and special meaning. The 9/11 Bullhorn Speech Flag was used in all the prior honor ceremonies by the U.S. Military All Stars. For this ceremony they are using a 70-year-old flag that comes with a history of its own.
“A gentleman we honored yesterday, climbed up and pulled down the flag while he was on the Saipan Island in 1945,” said Tank Stone, vice president of development for the U.S. Military All Stars. “He was building an air strip in order to stop the Japanese from taking over the island and who were also conducting kamikaze strikes on our troops and our ships. He was the last man leaving the island and as he turns around, he sees the flag flying, runs back, pulls the flag down and puts it in his duffle bag.”
The gentleman went home in 1948, put the flag in his closet, and had been there ever since until it was recently discovered.
“I read an article about this gentleman and the flag, and the first thing I did was knock on his door and said to him, ‘I’d like to honor you for honoring Old Glory,'” Stone said. “I honored that man on the field last night and then he presented that 70-year-old flag to the U.S. Military All Stars to carry it around like the George W. Bush Bullhorn Speech Flag we carried for 12 years in a glass case from 9/11.”
To finalize the ceremony, Russell Pritchard, a local U.S. Army WWII veteran from White Center, threw the first pitch to kick off the baseball game. The spectators clapped their hands and cheered loudly as Pritchard threw the first pitch. With his head held high, the veteran walked off the baseball field to watch the game as the spectators continued their thunderous applause.
During the game both teams were excited to play against each other and demonstrated friendly rivalry.
“It’s all about having fun, a good time, while at the same time remembering those before us,” Russell said.
| Date Taken: | 06.24.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.24.2015 20:35 |
| Story ID: | 168017 |
| Location: | WHITE CENTER, WA, US |
| Hometown: | SEATTLE, WA, US |
| Web Views: | 545 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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