Phillies' Veterans Party With US Military Veterans For Holiday Cheer In West Philly

By Paul Kurtz

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Members of the Phillies organization spread some holiday cheer today at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in West Philadelphia.

Manager Charlie Manuel led a contingent of ex-Phillies including Dickie Noles and Tommy Green, plus the Phillie Phanatic, on a road trip to the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center where they helped ex-servicemembers decorate a tree.

"In my mind these guys are heroes," said Manuel (right).  "They put forth their lives in an effort so we can maintain and have a free country."

"Wonderful, remarkable!" said Anthony Reed, a veteran of the war in Grenada.  "It was a big surprise. That's  a good Christmas present."  Reed now battles post traumatic stress disorder on a daily basis.

But hanging out with these Phillies legends and the Phillie Phanatic drained all the stress, at least for this day.

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"I knew we were gonna have hot chocolate and cookies -- that's about it," Reed tells KYW Newsradio.  "The lady told me there was gonna be a surprise but couldn't tell me what it was.  And it was a big surprise! All these guys walking out here in person. Normally I see 'em on television, and I finally got a chance to meet them."

The visit is part of the "Phillies Holiday Week of Giving."

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