Celebration Of U.S. Armed Forces And Veterans On 5/18
Bridgewater, New Jersey – The Somerset Patriots, the New York Yankees Double-A affiliate, have announced that the team’s Military Appreciation Day will take place at TD Bank Ballpark on Sunday, May 18. Fans are encouraged to arrive early for a pre-game ceremony beginning at 12:00 pm prior to the 1:05
Bridgewater, New Jersey – The Somerset Patriots, the New York Yankees Double-A affiliate, have announced that the team’s Military Appreciation Day will take place at TD Bank Ballpark on Sunday, May 18. Fans are encouraged to arrive early for a pre-game ceremony beginning at 12:00 pm prior to the 1:05 pm game versus the Portland Sea Dogs (Boston Red Sox).
REGISTER FOR VETERANS COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS!
BID ON GAME-WORN MILITARY APPRECIATION JERSEYS HERE!
All active military members and Veterans will receive complimentary tickets to the game with discounted $7.00 Upper Box tickets for their guests. Tickets are available online BY CLICKING HERE, by calling (908) 252-0700, or at the box office located at TD Bank Ballpark. If ordering online, Veterans will fill out a registration form and be contacted by a team representative to coordinate the complimentary and discounted ticket(s). Online orders are subject to fees.
Military Appreciation Day pre-game ceremonies will include a Veterans March on the warning track, guest speakers, special presentations and performances. Currently scheduled to speak during the pre-game program are MAJ Kelechi Odocha, MSG Ashley Foxworth and Police Captain Thomas Rizzo.
MAJ Odocha is an Infantry officer currently assigned to the United States Military Academy at West Point. At USMA, he serves in the Academy’s Operations Directorate and teaches military organizational leadership in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership. A native of Columbia, Maryland, and a first-generation American, MAJ Odocha has served in a variety of leadership roles across the Army, including as a Company Commander within the 10th Mountain Division and as a Regional Commander for West Point Admissions. He is a graduate of West Point and has focused his career on developing leaders of character, fostering community engagement, and building teams capable of excelling under pressure.
MSG Foxworth is an Air Defense Artillery Senior Sergeant (14Z) with 22 years of service. The Winston Salem, North Carolina native first enlisted in the military as a Combat Engineer in 2002. After five years and deployments to Afghanistan, MSG Foxworth transitioned into the Air Defense Artillery Branch. In 2007 he was awarded the MOS 14J known as an Air Defense C4I Operator/ Maintainer. MSG Foxworth currently serves as the United States Military Academy G3/5/7 Current Operations NCOIC for West Point. His awards and citations include the Meritorious Service Medals, Army Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medals, Combat Action Badge, and Army Space Badge.
Captain Rizzo, of the Howell Township Police Department, is a United States Army veteran who completed his training at Ft. Benning, Georgia, and served with Delta Company, 1st of the 124th Infantry, with an MOS of 11Bravo and 11Hotel (TOW Gunner - Anti-Armor Wire Guided Missile). He serves as an analyst on REELZ’s live documentary series On Patrol: Live, which documents the everyday work of police officers on patrol across the country. With more than 20 years in law enforcement, Rizzo oversees both sworn and civilian personnel and was recently inducted into the National Law Enforcement Officer Hall of Fame, earning its 2025 Founders Award, presented to an officer who goes “above and beyond in the line of duty and off.”
There will also be several on-site tables featuring event partners to provide Veterans and their families with important information, as well as enhance the experience for fans attending the event.
Patriots players and coaches will be wearing special themed military-inspired jerseys that will be auctioned off online. The game-worn jersey auction proceeds, as well as the game’s 50/50 raffle, will be donated to several participating Veterans’ charities supported by the team. BID ON GAME-WORN MILITARY JERSEYS HERE!
The first 2,000 fans in attendance will receive a camo baseball courtesy of Financial Resources Federal Credit Union. Participating organizations currently include the USO, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Maguire Air Force Base, Operation Shoebox New Jersey, U.S. Marine Corps and many more to be announced.
About the Somerset Patriots
The Somerset Patriots are the New York Yankees Double-A Affiliate and develop today’s top minor league talent into the pinstriped superstars of tomorrow for MLB’s winningest team. The Patriots were named Baseball America’s 2024 Freitas Award winner for Double-A Organization of the Year. Home games are played at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, NJ, where fans of all ages and levels of baseball fandom get to enjoy the unique experience that is minor league baseball. The 2025 season is presented by New Jersey Office Systems. To learn more, visit: somersetpatriots.com.