This entire weekend, for Memorial Day (which is a day not a weekend) the Mets will be wearing the items at the end of this post.
As the Mets know, Memorial Day is when we honor those who died while serving the U.S. Military.
While we’re all able to multitask and also be thankful to an active soldier, or a veteran, Memorial Day is to specifically honor those who died while serving the U.S. Military. The nation also celebrates something called Veterans Day, which is a different day, and is a wonderful opportunity to thank someone who served in the military. Frankly any day is a good day to thank those who served or serve now.
Anyway, since Memorial Day is a day when we honor those who died while servicing in the U.S. Military, the Mets will wear camo caps and jerseys. I am told that proceeds go to some sort of charity, but I never have been able to find out exactly what or how much. I am sure it is all for a good cause.
While I have the floor, perhaps there is some way to honor First Responders and those who died on September 11th, 2001. September 11th falls on September 11th every year, but baseball has been unable to figure out a way where the Mets could wear first responder caps during the game, and also have some money go to a charity much like these camo merch items will.
Anyway, take a moment to to honor those who died in service of our military.
One such soldier worth honoring is Sgt. Benjamin Benton, killed in the Vietnam War in January 1969 at age 23
Nearly half a century after he was killed in the Vietnam War, Sgt. Benjamin Benton of Camden County received an official welcome home Sunday afternoon.
…
Among those paying tribute to the South Mills native were Mike Gamble and Rick Dalton. Both served with Benton in the 82nd Airborne and were with him the day he was killed.
Gamble, a soft-spoken Alabaman from Tuscaloosa, recalled Benton as a good and unselfish leader. He said it was only because of Benton’s efforts that he survived a firefight with North Vietnam forces that ended up claiming Benton’s life.
At the time, Benton, Gamble and Dalton were part of a detachment of U.S. military personnel serving along the South Vietnamese-Cambodian border trying to prevent North Vietnamese troops from infiltrating South Vietnam.
Gamble said he remembers Benton specifically warning him to get down as they encountered North Vietnamese forces.
“He said, ‘Mike, they are in the trees. They’re everywhere. Get down.’ And that’s when I got down,” Gamble said.
Gamble said Benton’s warning saved his life. And because of it, he says he’ll “never forget Sgt. Benton.”
“Only by the grace of God did I come home,” Gamble said. “He used Benjamin to make that possible because the day it happened (Benton was killed), Benjamin saved my life. I have never forgotten that day, and I won’t forget it.”
Thank you to the Daily Advance for the long excerpt. If you choose to rad the entire story you will learn that Sgt. Benton’s family didn’t know where he was buried until recently.
That’s just one story I found with a quick google to just take a beat so everyone could focus for a second between grilling hot dogs.
The Blue Jays will also be participating in this weekend’s alternate dress code which is kind of them as Memorial Day in Canada is celebrated on July 1.
Thank you Sgt. Benton.
