Memorial Day ceremonies and Brooks Robinson High School All-Star Game highlight eight-game homestand

The Orioles will open their eight-game homestand on Monday, May 25, Memorial Day, at 1:35 p.m. against the Houston Astros with ceremonies honoring our nation's Armed Forces, including a presentation of the colors by Defense Information School Joint Color Guard; a ceremonial first pitch delivered by Col. Brian Foley, Garrison Commander of U.S. Army Fort Meade 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment; and the national anthem performed by Sgt. Ian Bowling from the U.S. Army Field Band. The first 20,000 fans 15 and over will receive a Stars and Stripes BBQ Apron.

Additionally, nine active duty soldiers will take the field with Orioles players just prior to the national anthem and all Orioles uniformed personnel will wear a special home jersey featuring an authentic, military-digital camouflage design licensed from the United States Marine Corps embedded into the twill (Orioles script, name, number) as well as a digicamo-patterned cap featuring the cartoon bird. These jerseys and caps will be autographed, authenticated, and auctioned on www.orioles.com/auction to benefit the Fort Meade Alliance beginning Monday, May 25, at 1:00 p.m. ET and ending Monday, June 1 at 10:00 p.m.

The Orioles will also host the annual Brooks Robinson High School All-Star Game at Oriole Park on Sunday, May 31, following the Orioles' 1:35 p.m. game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Orioles Legend and National Baseball Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson will appear at a press conference to introduce the players and coaches from across the state of Maryland who have been selected to participate in the game on Thursday, May 28, on the fourth floor of the Warehouse beginning at noon.

Hosted by the Orioles for the past 33 years, the Brooks Robinson High School All-Star Game showcases the best high school baseball players in Maryland. The game, sponsored by Geier Financial Group, will feature the top seniors from northern Maryland against the best players from southern Maryland. The Orioles provide accommodations for the press conference, field use for the players, game tickets, and recognition of the student-athletes from the North and South teams in an on-field, pre-game ceremony, during which an Orioles player will present each team with a bat inscribed with their name to honor their achievement. Geier Financial Group, based in Marriottsville, MD, has sponsored the game for the past eleven years to celebrate Robinson's legacy and recognize the best amateur baseball players in Maryland.

IN THE COMMUNITY

MARYLAND FOOD BANK

On Tuesday, May 26, the Orioles will partner with the Maryland Food Bank to host a food distribution event at William Pinderhughes Elementary in West Baltimore. Orioles Brad Brach, Zach Britton, Miguel Gonzalez and Ryan Lavarnway will participate in the event along with Orioles wives Jenae Brach, Courtney Britton, Lucy Gonzalez, Audie Jones, Jamie Lavarnway, Yainee Machado, Jessica Pearce, Jaime Russell, Angela Showalter, Christina Tillman and Maria Wieters to distribute food to local residents, many of whom have limited access to groceries due to last month's unrest in the city. The Oriole Bird will also make an appearance to help distribute food along with community volunteers. The event will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Media interested in covering this event should RSVP to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR

On Tuesday, May 26, the Orioles will honor the dedicated men and women of The Downtown Partnership's operations teams. Each year, Downtown Baltimore Guides assist more than 300,000 people; Clean Sweep Ambassadors remove more than 1,100 tons of trash from downtown neighborhoods; and Park Stewards provide and maintain downtown green spaces. On May 26, the Orioles will recognize three Downtown Partnership Employees: Downtown Baltimore Guide Serby Thornton, Clean Sweep Ambassador Nathaniel Suluki and Park Steward Robert Cunningham. The Orioles have also donated 250 tickets to The Downtown Partnership for Tuesday night's game against the Astros at 7:05 p.m.

AT THE BALLPARK

ALUMNI AUTOGRAPH SERIES

Every Monday and Thursday home game, former Orioles players will sign autographs on Eutaw Street as part of the Orioles Alumni Autograph Series. On Monday, May 25, Jose Orsulak, Garrett Stephenson and Bill Swaggerty are scheduled to greet fans and sign autographs from noon to 1:00 p.m.

MISS AMERICA TO THROW OUT CEREMONIAL FIRST PITCH

On Wednesday, May 27, Kira Kazantsev, who was crowned Miss America 2015, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the 4:35 p.m. game against the Astros. She became the third consecutive Miss New York to win the Miss America Pageant last fall. Kazantsev supports many non-profit organizations including the USO of Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore.

UNION NIGHT

On Friday, May 29, the Orioles will again host Union Night when approximately 23,000 union members along with their family and friends will be in attendance. To help support the Baltimore AFL-CIO Community Services Food Pantry Project, the Orioles will donate $1 for every ticket sold.

YOUTH BASEBALL DAY

The Orioles will host more than 10,000 pre-registered youth baseball players for a parade around the warning track on Sunday, May 31. Participating teams in Youth Baseball Day, presented by Ripken Baseball, will be greeted by Orioles players as they walk by the dugout. Teams, dressed in their uniforms, will carry banners and wave to their family members as they round the field.

ORIOLES MILITARY APPRECIATION PROGRAM

As part of the Orioles' Military Appreciation Program, the Orioles and OriolesREACH donate a catered private suite at each Sunday home game at Oriole Park to servicemen and women through the Sunday Suite Program, presented by GEICO. On Sunday, May 31, military members from the Westminster Marine Corps League 896 will enjoy the game against the Rays at 1:35 p.m. from a catered suite, have a meet-and-greet with Chris Davis and Darren O'Day, and receive a player T-shirt and cap.

STEAL SECOND BASE PRESENTED BY ESSKAY

The Orioles are again featuring the Steal Second Base contest for every Sunday home game this season. Presented by ESSKAY, the Steal Second Base contest allows a young fan to participate in a timed race from the grounds crew area in center field to retrieve second base. Fans can sign up for the opportunity at the ballpark at any Fan Assistance Center. The lucky winner will receive four tickets to that day's game, gift certificates to use inside the park, an Orioles jersey, and an Orioles prize pack. The contestants will also get to keep the authentic base. The winner for Sunday, May 31, is Matthew Colom, a 9-year-old from Baltimore.

ORIOLES REACH COMMUNITY BOOTH

During each home game, the Orioles provide a community booth for charitable, non-profit organizations to distribute information, sell raffle tickets, register participants, or conduct health care screenings for Orioles fans.

ORIOLES REACH GAMEDAY EXPERIENCE PROGRAM

This season, OriolesREACH is again hosting thousands of underprivileged youth as part of the Gameday Experience Program. Group members receive up to 150 game tickets, concessions, an Orioles t-shirt, a cap, and transportation to and from the game. Tickets are provided courtesy of Orioles players. Players participating in the program this year include Wei-Yin Chen, Chris Davis, Miguel Gonzalez, J.J. Hardy, Tommy Hunter, Adam Jones, Brian Matusz, Bud Norris, Travis Snider, Chris Tillman and Matt Wieters.