Airman First Class Casey Wallop’s ceremonial first pitch fell just a bit outside Nationals Park’s home plate on Thursday — about 6,900 miles outside.
Airman Wallop kicked off the game against the New York Mets with a pitch streamed from the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
While the airman pitched from Qatar, his mother, father and brother tossed in-person strikes in front of thousands of Nationals fans.
“It’s really special that we get to be with him today, not really, but from afar,” said Janice Wallop, the airman’s mother. “We’re able to support him and all the other troops, which is particularly powerful on the Fourth of July.”
The combined first pitches were part of a unique July Fourth experience at Nationals Park on Thursday. The franchise sent former players Adam Eaton and Doug Fister to Qatar to celebrate the holiday with American service members.
During Thursday’s game, the Nationals’ video board routinely cut to scenes from the Al Udeid Air Base. There, American service members watched the game alongside fans in D.C. via a virtual watch party.
The Fourth of July marked the Nationals’ third military appreciation day of the season. The organization said it welcomed the families of more than 250 deployed service members to the ballpark on Thursday.
“We’re here simply because they’re making this a priority, showing how important our troops are and honoring them today, which is obviously the appropriate day,” said Airman Wallop’s father, Jeff Wallop. “It’s celebrations like this that make you realize how lucky you are to live in this country.”
The day before he signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776, John Adams wrote to his wife that Independence Day should be celebrated “with pomp and parade with shows, games [and] sports.”
Jeff Wallop put it more simply.
“Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and the Fourth of July, right? That’s what it’s all about.”
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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