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Phillies hit home run with Air Force Week

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Ben Gonzales
PHILADELPHIA --  Take me out to the ball game. Take me out to experience the Air Force.

The Philadelphia Phillies saluted the Air Force with festivities both on the field and around the ballpark as part of Air Force Week in Philadelphia ceremonies on Memorial Day here as the Phillies dismantled the Colorado Rockies 20 to 5 in Major League Baseball action.

Members of the Air Force Heritage of America Band from Langley Air Force Base, Va., started pregame activities with ceremonial music and filled the Citizens Bank Park with patriotic music.

Next, Gen. Arthur J. Lichte, commander of Air Mobility Command, presented six Air Force Combat Action Medals to Airmen for their recent actions fighting the war on terrorism. General Lichte then swore in approximately 150 of the newest Airmen as area recruits were sworn into the Air Force. After giving the enlistment oath to tomorrow's next generation of Airmen, General Lichte threw out the first pitch to the Philly Phanatic, the Phillies mascot. The general's pitch may not have been a strike, but the support for Airmen from the Philadelphia community was a big hit. The raucous crowd cheered heartily for Airmen throughout the ceremonies.

The Air Force Honor Guard drill team then marched onto the field for pregame ceremonies, and members of the honor guard from McGuire AFB, N.J., entered the field to present the colors. At the conclusion of the national anthem played by the Air Force Heritage of America Band, as the 40,000 spectators watched a KC-135 Stratotanker and two F-16 Fighting Falcons fly over the ballpark.

But not all the action took place inside the ballpark.

Before the game, Air Force recruiters and equipment were on hand to give baseball fans of all ages a glimpse of what it takes to be in the Air Force. An F-16 was parked outside the ballpark as was a Pratt and Whitney F100 engine that powers the fighter. The Air Force Monster Truck, Air Force NASCAR car and other displays were on hand.

"What a ride," said Brian Clouse who rode on the Extreme Equalizer, which is a ride that gives people the experience of spinning and twisting similar to what pilots must experience. The 18 year old from Shipppensburgh, Pa., was one of the newest recruits to take the oath of enlistment, and after graduating from high school June 3 he will go to Basic Military Training in July at Lackland AFB, Texas, and later is scheduled to become a security forces Airmen. "I want to serve my country."

"It's important that our kids see what the Air Force is all about," said Sherri Hoffman of Delaware County, Pa. The mother of two children ages 19 and 12 guided her family around Air Force displays and said her children were intrigued by the F-16 cockpit.

"This is like what everyone in the service does," said Chris Meadow who played an Air Force fighter jet video game outside of Citizens Bank Park before the game. Mr. Meadow from New Castle, Pa., currently has one brother in the Marines in Iraq and one brother who is a Soldier serving in Japan. "I can't imagine doing this stuff for real. It takes deep down courage. This game upped my respect for military guys 200 percent."

Throughout the pregame and during the game, Air Force members in the stands for the game or deployed throughout Southwest Asia were highlighted on the Phillies big screen in taped messages to their families and fellow Phillies fans as the crowd cheered loudly showing their support for each servicemember featured. In addition, the Phillies groundskeepers wore Air Force shirts throughout the evening as they prepared the field for competition as a symbol of their support.

"What a great opportunity to tell the Air Force story and represent not only the 130,000 members of Air Mobility Command, but also the Air Force and all of our armed forces as we celebrate Air Force Week in Philadelphia on Memorial Day," General Lichte said. "Philadelphia is a great city and a great community."