Dodgers Host Veteran’s Day Batting Practice
On Monday the Dodgers hosted a group of more than 350 active duty and veteran service members from the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard, along with their families for Dodger Stadium’s annual Veteran’s Day event. The event was presented by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health.
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Event-goers were welcome to participate in batting practice on the field and in the cage located in the visitor’s clubhouse at Dodger Stadium, as well as tours and photo and autograph opportunities.
Vice President of External Affairs and Community Relations Naomi Rodriguez spoke with DodgersNation.com about the event.
We’ve been doing this now for over two decades and its our way to tell our military and our veterans ‘thank you’ — that we appreciate their sacrifice, their service to our country… baseball wouldn’t be baseball without the military.
Baseball requires teamwork, and military service requires teamwork. With that, the Dodgers understand that teamwork is more than just one person or one group making the sacrifice. Yes, their families are making a sacrifice as well. Moreover, the club understands the importance of inviting families along for the festivities.
They have their family — their kids, their loved ones — here today. We’ve opened the stadium for them. The batting cages, the field. They will have the opportunity to meet Fernando Valenzuela and we’re going to have a great day.
Along with Fernando, Dodgers alumni and legends including Ron Cey and Tommy Davis participated in the event. Additionally, event-goers were treated to a lunch and Q&A session with rookie second baseman Gavin Lux, and Dodgers play-by-play announcer Joe Davis.
It was a beautiful day spent at Dodger Stadium for all!
About the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health:
The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health is the largest public mental health department in the United States. Consistent with the mission of County of Los Angeles, the department provides services, including assessments, case management, crisis intervention, medication support, peer support, psychotherapy and other rehabilitative services to the County’s most vulnerable residents.
