Veterans Affairs, Washington Nationals Team Up to Honor Veterans

June 13, 2006
 

“Veterans Appreciation Day” Scheduled for June 14 at RFK

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Washington Nationals are teaming up for a major league salute to veterans.  Secretary of Veterans Affairs R. James Nicholson and the Washington Nationals today announced plans for honoring veterans and informing them about VA benefits with “Veterans Appreciation Day,” June 14, when the Nationals host the Colorado Rockies at 7:05 p.m., at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.

“We are pleased to be teaming up with the Washington Nationals to honor America’s veterans,” Nicholson said.  “I encourage everyone, especially youngsters, to join us at the ballpark to honor America’s heroes.”

“We are excited to be able to salute American veterans,” said Washington Nationals President Tony Tavares. “The Washington Nationals baseball club is honored to be able to say thank you to the heroes who have served our country.”

Veterans Appreciation Day offers a variety of activities and the opportunity to better inform attendees about the Department’s array of benefits for eligible veterans, with VA officials staffing information booths at the stadium on game day to provide benefits information.

Veterans Appreciation Day festivities are scheduled to include a pre-game ceremony with marching band performances, medleys of military service anthems, a military fly-over, ceremonial first pitches by Secretary Nicholson and other veterans, and the showing of veterans’ videos on the stadium’s “Jumbotron.”  Beginning at 5:45 p.m., June 14, the Nationals will display photos of veterans, living or memorialized, on the ballpark’s Jumbotron. 

People wishing to have their loved one's image included in the tribute can send an electronic photo of the veteran in uniform to military@nationals.com with the subject line "Veterans."  Submissions are asked to include the veteran’s name, rank, conflict(s) or years of service for those in the military during peacetime.  Photos must have a resolution of 72 dots-per-inch, and the team plans to use the first 400 images submitted.

The Nationals are offering discounts for veterans and VA employees attending the June 14 game, with $16 tickets available for $8 for Veterans Appreciation Day attendees.  

Those interested in purchasing discounted tickets should contact Mike Fisher with the Nationals at mike.fisher@nationals.com or 202-541-1765.

VA is the federal government's second largest department with more than 230,000 employees, a budget of more than $70 billion, and a nationwide system of health care services, benefits programs and national cemeteries that serve America's 25 million veterans.

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