MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. -- More than 2,500 Yuma baseball fans and approximately 300 station personnel celebrated Memorial Day May 30 at the Desert Sun stadium watching the city's own Yuma Scorpions face the Surprise Fightin' Falcons in independent minor league baseball action.
As a part of the opening day ceremonies, a corsair World War II fighter aircraft performed a fly over before the game, retired service members performed in the color guard, a sky-diver landed in the middle of the field with the American flag and Pfc. Emily Sample, a native of Sandusky, Ohio, temporary additional duty clerk, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, sang the national anthem.
Lt. Col. Mark P. Everman, commanding officer, a native of Philidelphia, Pa., Marine Attack Squadron-214, and other supporters of the Yuma Scorpions, had the unique opportunity to line up and throw the first pitches that kicked off the Scorpions first regular season home game of their inaugural season.
"The opening game just happened to fall on Memorial Day. Therefore we decided to make the most of it," said Pat Brown, general manager, Yuma Scorpions. "We decided to let someone from the Marine base sing the national anthem and honor the military for what they've done for our country in the past and present."
Cpl. Joel McNair, seat mechanic, VMA-214, said he attended the opening game for the Scorpions because his squadron was being represented.
"I also thought I'd bring my daughter to her first game," said McNair, a Kansas City, Kan., native whose daughter is 3 months old. "Having the day off for the Memorial Day weekend gave me the opportunity to bring my family to watch the game."
"We are new to the area, so this was something for us to do as a family on Memorial Day," said the Pine Groove, Pa., native Master Sgt. Dale Miller, Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron-1. "We are still settling down in our house, so going out of town this weekend was not an option."
Retired service members also made it out to the game and had the opportunity to watch baseball and celebrate Memorial Day all in one sitting.
"I came out here today because I love baseball," said Dave Schoaff, retired Navy and baseball fan. "I also had a friend who was in the color guard that I didn't even know about until I saw him here. I think everyone did a good job today during the opening game ceremonies."
McNair said he really liked the ceremonies performed to honor the military and plans on attending more games if time permits.
The Scorpions gave all their fans something else to cheer about by winning their first game 8-7. The Scorpions rallied to win the game after being down three runs in the fourth inning.