FORT DRUM- ALLIANCE BANK STADIUM, SYRACUSE, NY - Soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division (LI) attended a minor league baseball game Saturday at Alliance Bank Stadium in Syracuse, NY.
The Soldiers were invited to watch the game for free in celebration of the Syracuse Chiefs Armed Forces Appreciation Day. The Syracuse Chiefs are the triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals major league baseball team. The Chiefs were playing the Rochester Red Wings, the triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins.
The first Soldiers to leave their mark on the Chiefs fans were military intelligence Soldiers from Bravo Company, 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion (Gladiators), 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th MTN DIV. The Soldiers set up a static display of a Shadow Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. Soldiers stayed with the display until the beginning of the game, informing civilians on how the UAV is a Soldier's eye in the sky on the battle field.
While the Gladiators were informing fans and players of what it is like to be a Soldier outside the stadium, some Soldiers from the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment (Polar Bears), 2nd BCT were getting to know members of the Syracuse Chiefs inside the stadium.
The Polar Bears thought they were just going to be holding the American Flag during the ceremony, but the Chiefs had more in mind. The Soldiers were assigned to a player, and the player-Soldier teams went out on the field and played catch and talked to each other about what it means to be a player or a Soldier.
Before the opening pitch, several Soldiers from 1st and 2nd BCT were recognized in front of the entire stadium and re-enlisted to continue to serve in the Army.
After the re-enlisted Soldiers marched off the field, the Polar Bears carried the Flag to the middle of the infield and were met by the starting line-up of the Syracuse Chiefs. The Chiefs, wearing a special edition Armed Forces Day red, white and blue uniform, mixed in with the Soldiers to hold the Flag proudly.
After each Military Branch's respective song was played by the 10th Mountain Division band, the Soldiers and players headed into the dug out to prepare for the game.
This truly was a memorable day for the 10th Mountain Division, the Army, the Syracuse Chiefs and the people of the North Country.
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