Children Of 9/11 Victims To Throw Powerful First Pitch At Yankees Game On 25th Anniversary Of Attacks
on • Updated
This Friday, Sept. 11, will mark 25 years since the coordinated 9/11 terror attacks that killed 2,977 innocent people.
These attacks reshaped the American way of life, but revealed the nation’s resolve in even the darkest of days.
One of the pivotal cultural moments in the days that followed the attacks was at the World Series in Yankee Stadium in the fall of 2001. President George W. Bush’s first pitch (which can be seen below) was a perfect strike, and it is remembered for how it “symbolized the strength of the United States and encouraged healing in New York and throughout the nation.”
A quarter-century later, the attacks and heroism of first responders and others continue to be remembered… and a powerful first pitch is planned at Yankee Stadium to commemorate the 25th anniversary of 9/11.
Further, a country legend will sing a patriotic classic.
Yankees To Commemorate 25th Anniversary Of 9/11 With Powerful First Pitch
This week, on Sept. 11, the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks will be powerfully remembered at Yankee Stadium.
Just before the Yankees compete against the Mets, fans are asked to be seated for a special series of commemorative actions honoring those who responded to and were lost in the terror attacks.
According to the MLB, around 6:30 p.m. EST a giant American flag will be unfurled in the outfield during the singing of the National Anthem, which will be performed by opera tenor James Valenti.
Also part of the pregame ceremony will be country artist Lee Greenwood, who will sing “God Bless the USA.”
Throwing the ceremonial first pitches will be Brielle Saracini, joined by her husband, Sean McGuire.
Saracini and McGuire were both 10 years old when their fathers were killed in the 9/11 attacks.
Saracini’s father, Victor, was the captain of United Flight 175, which was hijacked and crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center. McGuire’s father, Patrick, worked on the 84th floor of that tower when it was hit.
Two years after the attacks, in 2003, Saracini and McGuire met at a camp that was established to help children who lost parents in 9/11.
On Sept. 9, 2017, Saracini and McGuire got married, with the 9/11 Memorial & Museum noting that she said during her wedding service:
“The biggest takeaway from 9/11 for me was that you might be able to break down steel and structure, but you can never destroy love.”
The MLB notes that Saracini has a unique connection to the Yankees which goes back to the days immediately following the attacks.
Three days after losing her father, 10-year-old Saracini wrote a letter to Yankees player Derek Jeter. Sharing what she and her family had gone through, she noted that her father would’ve wanted her to be able to fulfill her dream of meeting Jeter and the team.
Jeter received this letter, and he invited Saracini and her family to attend a game, with the MLB stating that “enduring friendships” were made that day for Saracini and Jeter, as well as members of the Yankees staff.
Here’s a photo of young Brielle Saracini sitting with Derek Jeter after the 9/11 attacks:
The game can be watched on ESPN and ESPN Unlimited/MLB.TV starting at 7 p.m. EST on Friday, Sept. 11.
RELATED: Trump’s July 4 “Salute To America”
Revisit George W. Bush’s Post-9/11 First Pitch At Yankee Stadium
After reciting Psalm 23:4 in his address to the nation in the evening of Sept. 11, 2001, President George W. Bush then said:
“This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace. America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time. None of us will ever forget this day. Yet, we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world.”
Over the next month, the president hit the ground running in the response to the 9/11 terror attacks. Accompanying him was resounding bipartisan support in Congress, and immense popularity with the American public.
As the War on Terror began, the nation was confident and determined.
On Oct. 30, 2001, President Bush donned an FDNY jacket and threw the first pitch at Game 3 of the 2001 World Series at Yankee Stadium. It instantly became an iconic moment.
Watch President George W. Bush throw the first pitch at Yankee Stadium, here:
RELATED: 103-Year-Old World War II Veteran Proudly Sings National Anthem At Baseball Game
