ANAHEIM, Calif. (NNS) -- Navy Chief Petty Officers representing the Greater Los Angeles Area Chief
Petty Officers Association and assigned to Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) Los Angeles
participate with other military members in pregame commemoration of Memorial Day at Angel
Stadium May 29.
Members from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard staged on the field and
rendered salutes during the playing of the National Anthem prior to the Angels’ game against the
Atlanta Braves.
There is a unique connection between the military and baseball. “I wanted to attend the event wearing
my uniform. Baseball, as our national pastime and serving our country go hand in hand,” describes
Command Master Chief Robert Uribe, from Long Beach and assigned to Cargo Afloat Rig Team 3 (CART-3).
During the ceremony, the Chiefs’ gift of a ceremonial paddle to the Bob Feller Act of Valor Foundation
for its contribution to the Navy was announced. Bob Feller was a professional baseball player, who at
age 23 put his career on hold to enlist in the Navy after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was an antiaircraft
gunner aboard USS Alabama (BB 60), serving four years and honorably discharged in 1945 as
a Chief Petty Officer. Feller then resumed his storied baseball career with the Cleveland Indians,
playing for 18 years. The paddle recognizes exceptional contribution to the Navy and will permanently
reside at the Bob Feller Museum in Van Meter, Iowa.
“His lineage lives through us…and in taking a page from his playbook, in and out of uniform we Chiefs
take care of our Sailors,” Chief Information Systems Technician Jose Deras, from Los Angeles and assigned
to CRS-11, describes his feelings about honoring a fellow Chief whose work continues even after death through
his namesake foundation which recognizes those who support our military in connection with baseball.
According to Chief Hospital Corpsman Tammy Allen, from Cerritos, Calif., and assigned to NOSC LA, “it
is important to remember our heritage as Navy Chiefs and that is the reason why more than 16 Chiefs
are here today.”
The Memorial Day commemoration also holds a bittersweet significance for Uribe who is retiring from
the Navy after 30 years of service, “I’m going to miss the camaraderie. Yeah, I’m going to miss it”
The game culminated with the Braves beating the Angels 6-3.
Date Taken: | 05.29.2017 |
Date Posted: | 05.30.2017 02:26 |
Story ID: | 235658 |
Location: | ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA, US |
Web Views: | 471 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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