NORFOLK, Va. –
The Norfolk Tides honored Service members from Joint Base Langley-Eustis and neighboring Hampton Roads military installations during the club's annual Armed Forces Appreciation Night game at Norfolk's Harbor Park May 9, 2015.
Outside the stadium, each service provided a static display for game guests to enjoy. The Air Force display featured the 633rd Civil Engineer Squadron's Explosive Ordnance Disposal flight's vehicle and equipment, including their innovative EOD robot, while the Army provided a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle from the 11th Transportation Battalion, 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary) at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story.
Before the game, the team invited several Service members onto the field to participate in a variety of ceremonies and observances. Additionally, local service recruiters gathered future Service members to perform a mass enlistment along the third base line, swearing in before a crowd of 10,536 fans.
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Niquoll Flacksenburg, 1st Fighter Wing command chief's assistant and recipient of a Stripes for Exceptional Performers, or STEP, promotion, threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Air Force, and U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Francisco Gallegos, 1st Battalion, 210th Aviation Regiment, 128th Aviation Brigade instructor and Fort Eustis' 2014 Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, tossed the first pitch to represent the Army.
"It's really amazing to see all the different pieces of the military together here being celebrated," Flacksenburg said. "Usually the fans cheer for the players, but tonight everyone cheered for us. That's a really rewarding feeling."
A joint service color guard presented the nation's colors and the flags of each military branch. U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Rebecca Stillin, a member of the Langley Base Honor Guard, carried the Air Force flag. U.S. Army Pvt. Justin Burns carried the Army flag, while Pfc. Sean Ireland served as a ceremonial rifle bearer.
The U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Band performed a medley of service songs, as well as providing their rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner," a baseball pre-game tradition.
U.S. Air Force Col. James Forrest, 633rd Medical Group deputy commander, served as the Air Force's senior service representative. Forrest thanked the Tides for their show of gratitude to the military, calling it "an honor" to have been invited on to the field.
"This is such a great program the Tides have established to recognize and show their appreciation for the men and women of our armed forces. It's an honor to have been asked to represent the Air Force this evening," said Forrest. "I've always been proud to wear the uniform, but standing out on the ball field with other members of our sister services made me even more so."
Following the ceremonies, the Tides, the Triple-A Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, defeated the Buffalo Bisons 1-0 in extra innings on a walk-off bases-loaded single by Tides designated hitter Chris Parmelee in the bottom of the 11th inning.