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Gateway Grizzlies honor Airmen

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Karoline Scott
  • 375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Hundreds of servicemembers from all branches of the U.S. military and their families packed the GCS Stadium in Sauget, Ill., Tuesday evening for a special Gateway Grizzlies baseball game that paid tribute to Airmen as a part of the inaugural Air Force Week. 

Lasting from Aug. 6 to Aug. 13, Air Force Week is being held in the St. Louis metropolitan region celebrating the United States Air Force, its people, mission and accomplishments. In support of the men and women in the armed forces, identification card holding fans were granted free admission to the Grizzlies game. 

To kick it all off, Col. Al Hunt, 375th Airlift Wing commander at Scott Air Force Base, accompanied NASA astronaut Air Force Lt. Col. Scott Virts to the pitcher' s mound where he threw out the first pitch. Colonel Hunt then presented a baseball with Grizzlies' signatures to Grizzlies general manager Tony Funderburg. The ball had been flown over areas of responsibility in the Middle East on a C-17 Globemaster III out of Charleston AFB, S.C. 

Continuing the Air Force festivities, the colors were posted by the 375th AW Honor Guard and the National Anthem was sung by Staff Sgt. Albert Williams of Air Mobility Command's Band of Mid America. The crowd's eyes then turned upward to witness a flyover by a C-17 from Altus AFB, Okla. 

Though the Grizzlies ultimately lost the game to their opponents, the Traverse City Beach Bums, the evening provided fun and camaraderie to all who attended. 

"It's great to see Airmen out with their families enjoying this game," said Colonel Hunt. "It's wonderful to have support from teams like the Grizzlies to show the men and women stationed here and deployed how much they mean to the community." 

Air Force Week activities will continue Wednesday with a visit to the St. Louis Science Center by Colonel Virts and will culminate with AirFest 2006 Saturday and Sunday at Scott AFB. 

"The AirFest will be a strong and spectacular finish to Air Force Week," said Colonel Hunt. "It's our way to give back to the community and thank them for all they do. It is the community that gives servicemembers the support we need to perform our duties at home and abroad. 

"In the future, I hope to see Air Force Week return to St. Louis as well as spread to other bases worldwide," said Colonel Hunt. "It has been a great week for St. Louis, Scott AFB and the United States Air Force."