Active Military
Members of four branches (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines) of the United States Military Service have either attended a game with me or were met along the way. Some have since been discharged and have been to games with me as civilians. Because of the efforts of a true patriot, Mary Klepper, many of the active military members went to games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore. It was Mary who helped organize Operation Welcome Home in 2008 in which the Orioles hosted wounded Gulf War Marines stationed at Bethesda Naval Hospital. Mary also invited me to participate as a member of the 2009 Opening Day Flag Draping Team at Oriole Park and during the game on that day I met several members of the Air Force Honor Guard. My new book, which is under preparation, highlights these fans in a chapter entitled “Patriotism and Baseball.”
Jim
