When: Tuesday, May 16 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Higbee Field, 6000 Atlantic Ave, Wildwood Crest
The Borough of Wildwood Crest and the Greater Wildwood Little League are set to join forces to honor military veterans ahead of a Little League baseball game scheduled for Tuesday, May 16, at Higbee Field.
Wildwood Crest residents and military veterans Michael Marino and Samuel Wilson will take part in a ceremonial first pitch at the event as part of Wildwood Crest’s participation in the statewide “We Value Our Veterans” campaign.
All military veterans from Wildwood Crest and military veterans who are the parents or grandparents of current Greater Wildwood Little League baseball, softball or tee ball players are welcome to attend the event.
The pre-game ceremony to honor military veterans is set to begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by a majors division baseball game between Greater Wildwood Lions and Greater Wildwood Raging Waters at 7 p.m.
The statewide “We Value Our Veterans” campaign is designed to encourage counties, municipalities, businesses and academic institutions to honor and value the sacrifices, patriotism and bravery displayed by men and women who have served in the various branches of the United States military.
Mike Marino, a Wildwood Crest resident for 15 years, served at Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina from 1977 through 1981 as a Combat Controller, an elite special operations force that specializes in all aspects of air-ground communication.
Sam Wilson has been a Wildwood Crest resident for 12 years. The son of a three-star general, Wilson began his military career as a commissioned regular army officer from ROTC at the University of Alabama in 1969. Following 27 months of battalion command, Wilson retired in 1989 with 20 years of active service in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. His overseas service included stints in Panama, Vietnam, Korea and Honduras.