MLB Remembering Our Heroes On July 4th...

I have my problems with Major League Baseball. They have taken the game I love, and turned it into a maniacal money making machine, leaving the true fans behind.

I am not going to rant about this today. Instead, I tip my orange and blue Mets cap (yes, the true Mets cap, not that stupid black one) to MLB.

Across baseball today, MLB will be honoring our returning heroes from all branches of military service. Players will be wearing "a very stylish and very symbolic Stars and Stripes baseball cap." After the games, these caps will be auctioned off, and the proceeds will aid our returning veterans. This is all part of the Welcome Back Veterans national fund raising awareness campaign that was announced jointly last week by Major League Baseball, MLB Advanced Media and the McCormick Foundation. Mets owner Fred Wilpon has been a driving force in this project, and should be congratulated.

To quote an article by Mark Newman at mlb.com, "All home teams over this weekend will be host to ceremonies honoring veterans in their community, with veterans throwing out first pitches. For games on the Fourth, "Welcome Back Veterans" will adorn the bases and ceremonial home plates. There will be custom lineup cards, with a place for a local veteran to place his or her signature. Among many fundraising activities, each MLB club will auction off a set of bases, game-worn caps and a specially designed team jersey to benefit Welcome Back Veterans."

Welcome Back Veterans also look to place returning vets in jobs. Some of the companies that have been pro-active in this endeavor are 1-800-Flowers and Travelers Insurance, who has committed 2,000 job opportunities according to their CEO Jay Fishman.

This is a wonderful thing Major League Baseball is doing, and they should be congratulated. More importantly, today on July 4th, we should thank and congratulate our veterans. It is because of their bravery and selflessness that we are able to live in freedom...to blog, rant, practice our faith, speak our mind, work, play, etc. Please take the time and read the article by Mark Newman, it won't disappoint.