Orioles to celebrate Military Appreciation Day this Friday

On Friday, June 14, the Orioles will celebrate Flag Day and the Army's Birthday as part of Military Appreciation Day and the team's ongoing military appreciation efforts. Pre-game ceremonies will include a swearing-in ceremony for future Army members as well as military involvement in the first pitch, presentation of colors and National Anthem. Col. Edward Rothstein, Retired Col. Bert Rice, Retired Sgt. Maj. Ray Moran and Col. Douglas Dillard will each throw out ceremonial first pitches on Friday. The U.S. Army, 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment will present the colors and a vocalist from the U.S. Army Field Band will perform the National Anthem as nine active duty soldiers from Fort Meade take the field with Orioles players. Orioles uniformed personnel will wear a special home cap and jersey that will feature a digicamo pattern designed into the twill (Orioles script, name and number). These jerseys and caps will be autographed and authenticated and auctioned online as a pair at www.orioles.com/auction beginning June 14 at 7:00 p.m. through June 21 at 11:59 p.m., with proceeds to benefit the Fort Meade Alliance Resiliency Center Fund. The Orioles will also donate 100 tickets to Fort Meade to bring military members to Friday night's game. Promotions on Friday will include an Orioles Military Appreciation T-shirt presented by GEICO, available to the first 10,000 fans 15 and over attending the game. The shirt features the cartoon bird in the same digicamo print that the Orioles will wear on their jerseys and hats. And all fans will enjoy a post-game fireworks show with a patriotic theme. On Memorial Day, Orioles players and coaches wore special camouflage Baltimore script jerseys during their road game against the Washington Nationals. The game-worn jerseys were autographed, authenticated and auctioned on www.orioles.com to benefit the Yellow Ribbon Fund, which benefits patients at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The Memorial Day jersey auction raised over $32,000. On Friday, June 14, members of the Yellow Ribbon Fund will be presented a check in a special pre-game ceremony.