KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division, alongside players and members of the Kansas City Royals, saluted service members during a Memorial Day ceremony at Kauffman Stadium.
The almost hour-long pre-game ceremony honored veterans of the past, present and future in front of thousands of fans.
Col. Mike Morgan, 1st Inf. Div. chief of staff, represented Soldiers of the United States Army as the ceremony recognized each branch of the military.
"The evening was truly special," Morgan said. "For us, the 'Big Red One,' to be out there and represent the Army like we did was touching. I'm proud of our guys and our division."
Morgan gave the oath of enlistment to four Soldiers who re-enlisted on the field.
Spc. Andrew Garza, a light-wheel vehicle mechanic assigned to the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team who has served more than three years, beamed with pride after the ceremony.
"This was an once-in-a-lifetime moment for me," Garza said. "To stand on the field and take my oath -- I will never get to do something as awesome as that again -- was truly amazing."
Once the oath of enlistment concluded, six veterans who represented each of the major wars the nation has participated in walked onto the field. The group featured a Soldier from the 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Inf. Div., who returned from Afghanistan less than three weeks ago and a World War II veteran who also served with the famed division.
Immediately following the generations of living veterans salute, two combat veterans who recently returned from Afghanistan were recognized for their service.
Lt. Gen. Robert B. Brown, commanding general of the Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., alongside Command Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey Wright, senior noncommissioned officer for the CAC, awarded the Bronze Star medal to Lt. Col. Jon R. Spell, commander of the 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 1st CAB, 1st Inf. Div., and Command Sgt. Maj. Archie S. Deese, the battalion's senior noncommissioned officer, for meritorious service during Operation Enduring Freedom 13-14.
Also highlighting the division was a performance of "America the Beautiful" by the 1st Inf. Div. Band.
The night's pre-game festivities were capped by retired Col. Jack Brooks, a 1st Inf. Div. D-Day veteran who landed on the beaches of Omaha in Normandy, France, almost 70 years ago, throwing out the game's first pitch.
Brooks was brought onto the field in a wheelchair, but when it came time to throw out the pitch, he stood and walked out near the mound. The crowd roared as the retired colonel ended the ceremony with his pitch.
"It gave me goose bumps to see him get up and walk out there," Garza said. "A true hero."
As thousands watched the 1st Inf. Div. represent the Army and the nation with professionalism, pride and skill, the Memorial Day ceremony also recognized more than 30 future Soldiers from the greater Kansas City area who are set to depart for basic training in less than 30 days.
"This ceremony really encompassed the military as a whole," Morgan said. "To honor those who gave their all, while honoring those who sacrificed past, present and future, is a remarkable tribute."
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