"Military Salute" Will Feature Military All-Stars Baseball Team
DAVENPORT, Iowa -- The Quad Cities will salute the nation's military by enjoying the nation's game on Saturday, May 10 at Modern Woodmen Park to kick-off Quad Cities Military Appreciation Week.
The U.S. Military All-Stars Baseball team will bring its "Red, White and Blue Tour'' to Modern Woodmen Park for an exhibition game against the Quad City All-Stars, a team of former high school and college players from the Quad Cities. The exhibition game begins at 4 p.m., prior to the Quad Cities River Bandits game against the Kane County Cougars.
Genesis Health System will provide 1,000 free tickets to Rock Island Arsenal-based active duty service personnel and their immediate families.
All active, reserve and retired military personnel with a valid military I.D. and their immediate family will receive half-priced tickets to the River Bandits games against the Kane County Cougars May 10-11.
Regular-priced River Bandits tickets will also be available for the general public and will include entry into the exhibition game.
"This is our way of showing our appreciation for the tremendous sacrifices made each day by our military and their families,'' said Ken Croken, vice president of corporate communications and marketing, Genesis Health System. "We hope the day will give military families a chance to spend time together and to be recognized for their contributions."
"We also hope that our military families in the region will take advantage of all of the discounts and recognitions available throughout Quad Cities Military Appreciation Week,'' said Davenport Alderman and retired Army officer Mike Matson.
The U.S. Military All-Stars Baseball team is made up of players from all branches of service. Roster changes are made often as players are deployed.
Last year, two players on the team were drafted in the major league draft. Jonathan Johnston, one of the two draft picks, will be playing for the Kane County Cougars against the River Bandits following the exhibition game.
The baseball games will be only one feature of the daylong recognition. Additional events include a color guard, a swearing-in ceremony for new recruits and military hardware displays set up outside and inside the stadium.
Major General Bob Radin, Commander, Army Sustainment Command, is scheduled to throw out the first pitch for the exhibition game.
The following organizations are sponsoring the Military Salute: American Legion Post 26-Davenport, Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA), Booz | Allen | Hamilton, City of Davenport, Citi Smith Barney, DavenportOne, Davenport Rotary Club, Genesis Health System, KUUL, Mel Foster Co., Northwest Bank, Palmer Chiropractic Clinics, Q106, Quad Cities River Bandits, Ramada, St. Ambrose University, Swiss Valley Farms, Wal-Mart, Woodfire Grill Restaurant and WQAD-TV.
View a complete schedule of May 10 activities.
For a complete schedule of Quad Cities Military Appreciation Week events and discounts, visit www.riarsenaltaskforce.com.