Boeing, Seattle Mariners unite for military tribute night

The cheers coming from inside Seattle’s T-Mobile Park earlier this month were about more than baseball. The Mariners Salute to Armed Forces Night, presented by Boeing, was a celebration honoring military veterans and their spirit of service.

Employee veterans group takes center field: During the national anthem, members of the Puget Sound Chapter of the Boeing Veterans Engagement Team (BVET) and their family members presented the flag on the field..

Ed Stamp, chapter president , described the thrill he felt standing in front of thousands of baseball fans. “It was an absolutely amazing once-in-a-lifetime experience being out on the field, holding the flag,” he said.

Jerome Wallace, chapter vice president, expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to engage with future servicemen and women at the game.

“I joined the service as a Marine, and I just enjoy talking to these young people because they’re about to take a step in their lives that they’ll never forget,” Wallace said.

A special first pitch: U.S. Army Sergeant Bianca Hayden – an aspiring 2025 Invictus Games athlete – threw a perfect strike in the ceremonial first pitch on behalf of Boeing.

“That was amazing, and seeing everyone in the crowd was unbelievable,” she said.

Catch up quick: Boeing is a presenting sponsor of the Invictus Games, an international multi-sport event for wounded, injured, and sick service members. Hayden hopes to compete with Invictus Team U.S. in Vancouver Whistler next year. Hayden is assigned to the soldier recovery unit at Joint Base Lewis McChord near Seattle and is part of Team Army for the 2024 Warrior Games in Orlando, Florida.

In addition to all the memorable moments from the military at the Mariners game, the first 10,000 fans in attendance received a co-branded Mariners-Boeing baseball hat to commemorate Salute to Armed Forces Night.