North Carolina VFW POW/MIA

Posted at 12:18 on Friday 4 July 2008 by POW/MIA Chairman in General News

Philadelphia Phillies - phillies.com - Philadelphia, PA, USA

07/04/2008 7:40 PM ET
Army vet honored to throw out first pitch
Ferraro part of 'Welcome Back Veterans' national campaign
By Kevin Horan / MLB.com

PHILADELPHIA -- Marc Ferraro has been working on his pitching skills for the past week, trying to learn a breaking ball from his son, an Amateur Athletic Union baseball player.

"But it wasn't working," Ferraro said with a smile.

Ferraro, a 24-year Army veteran and resident of Cherry Hill, N.J., was preparing to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Friday's game between the Phillies and Mets at Citizens Bank Park. He has been a commander of the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team since March 2007.

All Major League teams hosting games this weekend are participating in a "Welcome Back Veterans" national fundraising and awareness campaign. A veteran threw out the first pitch at each park before Friday's games.

A pregame ceremony at Citizens Bank Park also included a presentation of 50 state flags along with a POW/MIA flag. Commemorative bases and home plates -- imprinted with "Welcome Back Veterans" -- were used in Friday's games throughout Major League Baseball.

Ferraro is spending the summer at home, but he will leave for Iraq in September. He said he was surprised when offered the chance to throw out the first pitch. Once he walked out to Citizens Bank Park's infield, the "emotions were going."

"It's just an honor to represent everybody," Ferraro said. "Those that served before us, those serving now and those getting ready to go over."