(Photo by Jason Schott)
The Yankees and the USO hosted over 250 volunteers at Yankee Stadium’s Great Hall on Tuesday morning to help assemble more than 5,000 USO Big Apple Packs for active duty service members.
The USO will distribute the care packsage to troops serving in remote units across the world during this holiday season.
Yankees front office employees and veterans helped prepare care packages for those serving in our Armed Forces. There were also volunteers from Delta, Disney, FedEx and MetLife that participated.
Yankees Manager Joe Girardi, and YES broadcasters Michael Kay and David Cone lent their support to the event, with each giving speeches.
Girardi said of what it meant to be doing this event, “I just think it’s a way to give back and just to thank our soldiers for what they’re doing. The physical and mental stress that they go through on a daily basis to keep us safe is probably something none of us can really imagine, but it means a lot. I remember getting care packages in the mail and how much they meant to me, so hopefully, it touches their heart and lets them know that we care.”
On what it would mean to the soldiers to see the Yankees logo, Girardi said, “I hope so. obviously, we have fans all around the world, and you know, hopefully, they come back and watch the game.”
On what the Yankees do for the military, such as playing God Bless America and honoring a veteran every night, Girardi said, “I just hope that they know we’re thinking of them. The Yankee organization and the community around here is really thankful for what we do for the country. I believe we live in the greatest country in the world and we’re safe here because of what they do and the time and the effort that they put in, and all the hours and the time spent away from home, and we just want to say thank you.”
Girardi said of family he has that served in the military, “My father was in the Korean War and I had an uncle who flew helicopters in Vietnam.”
