Bulletin Board
Subscribe to our NewsletterPresentation Speech
I have lost my ability to be all places at once and as such will not be present for most of the award presentations this weekend. We are playing at 26+ ballfields and I will be honored to present awards at some of them.
Below is what I say to the Champion and Runner-Up teams of each bracket:
I started this tournament in 2014 as a fundraiser for my sons’ baseball team and as a way to recognize our Armed Forces. It was originally held on Armed Forces Day late in May. What started as 6 teams that year grew to 30 teams the next year and within 4 years was pushing over 200 teams playing over two weekends. We had more demand than available playing venues. This year we have 290 teams. This is a great way to recognize our troops.
I served in the Marine Corps for 20 years, 8 months and 12 days before retiring as a GySgt in October 2005. My family covers the full gamut of military service. My father served in the Army, my brother in the Navy and my two sisters retired from the Air Force/Air National Guard. Currently, my middle son is a 1stLt Capt in the Marine Corps, serving at 1st Reconnaissance Battalion 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) in Camp Pendleton, CA. Together, our family, has over 107 years of combined service and counting.
Although this tournament recognizes all who served, we pay a little more attention to those who not only stepped up to the task but went above and beyond the call of duty. Those are the recipients of the Medal of Honor. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have produced many heroes and these are some of the Elite.
There have been 28 recipients of the Medal of Honor for the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. 9 for Iraq and 19 for Afghanistan.
Army – 20 (7 P), Navy – 4 (2 P), Marines – 3 (1 P), Air Force – 1 (P)
Both teams in the finals receive a set of dog tags for all their players. Every player on the team has different Medal of Honor Recipient name on one their tags. The other tag will be their tournament accomplishment.
I challenge each and every one of you (ballplayers) to do some research on your recipient and find out what your Medal of Honor recipient did to earn this highest honor of military service for courage in the face of the enemy. Once you have done your research, share their story the next time you have a practice or a game.
Just remember, FREEDOM isn't free, someone paid that price for you.
Semper Fi
Gunny Out
The Fallen Soldier Battle Cross, Battlefield Cross or Battle Cross is a symbolic replacement of a cross, or marker appropriate to an individual service-member's religion, on the battlefield or at the base camp for a service member who has been killed. It is made up of the service member's rifle stuck into the ground or into their boots, with helmet on top. Dog tags are sometimes placed on the rifle, and the boots of the dead service member can be placed next to the rifle. The purpose is to show honor and respect for the dead at the battle site. The practice started during or prior to the American Civil War, as a means of identifying the bodies on the battleground before removal. Today, it is a means of showing respect for the dead amongst the still living members of the unit. It is commonly seen in the field or base camp after a battle, especially among American troops in Afghanistan or Iraq. While it is used less today as a means of identification, it still serves as a method of mourning among the living, as attending the funeral is not always possible for service members still in combat.
This award will be handed out at multiple venues today.
Air Force Army Marines Navy
2016 10U 13U 15U 12U
2017 10U 13U 15U 12U
2018 10U, 14U 8U, 12U, 16U 9U, 13U, 17U 11U, 15U
2019 10U, 14U, 19U 12U, 16U 9U, 13U, 17U 11U, 15U
2020 10U, 14U, 18U 12U, 16U 9U, 13U, 17U 11U, 15U
2021 10U, 14U, 17+ 8U, 12U, 16U 9U, 13U 8U, 11U, 15U
2022 10U, 14U, 17+ 8U, 12U, 16U 9U, 13U, 17U 8U, 11U, 15U
2023 10U, 14U, 17+ 8U, 12U, 16U 9U, 13U, 17U 8U, 11U, 15U
2024 10U, 14U, 17+ 8U, 12U, 16U 9U, 13U, 17U 11U, 15U
2025 10U, 14U, 17+ 8U, 12U, 16U 9U, 13U, 17U 11U, 15U
The Armed Forces SlugFest tournament started in 2014 playing the 3rd weekend of May during Armed Forces Day with only 1 field playing 13U.
Expanded in 2015 and had 10U, 12U & 14U playing at 5 fields. Tournament pins also started in 2015.
I know we had dog tags the first two years but don’t remember when I started the Military Statues for team awards.
In 2017 we moved tournament to 1st weekend in June due to scheduling issues with High School fields.
2018 marked the 1st year of playing over 2 weekends. AFSF will always be the 1st two weekends of June.
2018 also marked the 1st year of the current format age group/military service match.
The Army Statues are the only one where I have choices. Some levels may have different Soldier Statues.
There have also been been some special levels that had Purple Heart Statue or Battlefield Cross.
11U Purple Heart Champions
Bethesda Birds
.jpeg)
This was the only Purple Heart presentation this year. The Korean War Purple Heart Veteran that made the Purple Heart Statues died a couple years ago and I was fortunate enough to buy the remaining statues. This was the last one.
This ceremony this year was extra specail because we had Purple Heart Recipient SFC Parker US Army Retired on hand to share his story.
HIs convoy came under attack in 2007 while patrolling in Iraq. His vehicle was hit with an IED and he received severe burns and other injuries.
He is pictured in the back.
_______________________________________
• MILITARY DOG TAG HISTORY •
|
The concept of "identification tags" dates back to the Civil War (1861-1865) where names were written on paper tags and pinned to clothing, dog tags were made out of wood with carved holes at the end so they could be worn around the neck on a string and coins were smoothed over for engraving name and unit number. |
