story by Steve McCarthy
June 21, 2010
COTUIT - It is only fitting for a league defined by
selfless effort to honor the organizations that beat
them to it.
Each Friday this
summer, the Cape Cod Baseball League will pay tribute to
the United States' armed forces with home teams sporting
commemorative red jerseys, featuring red, white, and
blue ribbon patches. Each of the league's 10 franchises
are encouraged to invite service personnel to pre-game
ceremonies and accept donations to benefit a charity of
their choice.
Advanced Embroidery
of Hyannis, a supplier of league merchandise, and Eye
Health Services are co-sponsors of the Cape League's Red
Shirt Friday efforts. Teams will not be required to
cover the cost of the alternate jerseys.
Cotuit Athletic
Association member Bob Scotti and Cotuit Kettleers
General Manager Bruce Murphy have taken the reigns of
the Kettleers' Red Shirt Friday activities and are
hoping to provide an example for other franchises to
follow. Scotti said all five of Cotuit's Friday home
dates have been booked with military, police, and fire
department guests. Donations offered in Cotuit will
benefit the Wounded Warrior Project, which according to
its website responds to the needs of severely injured
servicemen and women. Basic goods will also be accepted
and delivered to troops.
“Putting
themselves in harm's way and being away from their
families, (Military personnel) really should be
recognized as the true heroes of our country,” Scotti
said.
Red Shirt Fridays
is a national organization with a mission statement of
showing support for servicemen and women. The
organization is not politically oriented and does not
take a stance on war decisions. Its goal is to vocalize
support for the sacrifice of servicemen and women.
“We're hoping our
fans will pick up on the theme, as our interns and a lot
of our volunteers and staff will be wearing red Support
The Troops tee-shirts,” Murphy said. “We're hoping
it's going to catch on and there will be a lot of red
throughout the stands on those Fridays.”
U.S. Army Reserve
Movements Supervisor Travis Andrade, who has served two
tours in Iraq and is also the Sturgis Charter Public
School baseball coach, was part of Cotuit's first Red
Shirt Friday on June 18. Sturgis plays its home games at
Cotuit's Lowell Park.
“It's an
excellent program,” Andrade said. “I can only speak
for myself, but knowing soldiers the way that I do, the
guys overseas really appreciate stuff like this, because
they don't have any role in deciding why they're there.
They just have to be there, and knowing that the folks
back home still support them, regardless of how they
feel about the war, is important.”
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