Vets Honored Before A's Game
OAKLAND, Calif. (KCBS) _ It was a special day for a group of Bay Area veterans at Saturday's Oakland A's game.
The group of about 20 veterans were led onto the field during a pre-game ceremony.
"It is fantastic. It's just amazing, just amazing," said marine infantryman Jason Poole.
Poole served two tours in Iraq and suffered through a bomb blast that left him blind in one eye and deaf in one ear.
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Also on hand was Christian Valle, an army veteran with five years of experience. He lost both legs in an IED explosion.
"I'm shocked. I'm actually throwing out the first pitch," said Valle.
A's relief pitcher Brad Ziegler did the catching for the first pitch and said he was more excited about the event than the veterans.
"It's an honor and a privilege," said Ziegler. "They sacrifice so much of their time and time away from family and risking their lives on a daily basis."
A's Corporate Sales Manager Jill Golden said this is the first VA Welcome Home Event put on by the team.
"I'm really proud to be part of it, as an organization and certainly on a personal level," she said. "All of us working today on the event are near and dear to our hearts."
And Golden said she hopes it won't be the last of these events.
