World War II 60th Anniversary Ceremony Prior to Mets Game Sept. 14th at Shea Stadium is Organized By The American Legion, Post 50

The American Legion and the New York Mets have teamed for a September 14 salute to the sacrifices of American military personnel in World War II. More than 400,000 members of the American Armed Forces – including more than 43,000 from New York State – lost their lives in the conflict, which was remembered in 60th anniversary ceremonies this year at various locations around the world. The ceremonies at Flushing Meadows were organized by American Legion Post 50 from Pelham, N.Y., which also brought an overlooked military hero to the attention of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Pelham, NY (PRWEB) September 13, 2005 -– The New York Mets and The American Legion have teamed for a September 14 salute to the sacrifices of American military personnel in World War II. More than 400,000 members of the American Armed Forces – including more than 43,000 from New York State – lost their lives in the conflict, which was remembered in 60th anniversary ceremonies this year at various locations around the world. The ceremonies at Flushing Meadows were organized by American Legion Post 50 from Pelham, N.Y., which also brought an overlooked military hero to the attention of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.

In ceremonies that will begin at 6:45 PM prior to the September 14 game against the Washington Nationals, color guards from the American Legion – representing various local posts in the metropolitan New York area – will present the American Flag prior to the singing of The Star Spangled Banner. Additionally, World War II veterans will line up near home plate to be recognized by the crowd.

“More than 16,000,000 Americans served in the American Armed Forces during World War II,” said Michael Barrett, commander of Post 50. “It was a fight which determined the very survival of the United States and it affected everyone in the nation. This is the 60th anniversary of the end of that conflict and it may be one of the last opportunities for all of us to thank these true heroes for the sacrifices they made for all Americans. Everyone at Post 50 is honored to be able to lead that tribute and we are very thankful that The New York Mets have allowed us to show our respects at Shea Stadium.”

All of America, including Major League Baseball, was significantly affected by World War II. With many non-essential businesses deciding to shut down during the conflict, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, then the Commissioner of Baseball, wrote to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and asked if Baseball should “close down for the duration of the war.”

On January 15, 1942, President Roosevelt responded with the famous “Green Light Letter” indicating that baseball was a definite recreational asset to the nation and that he would like to see the games continue.
Roosevelt also made a suggestion that had a significant impact on the major league schedule from that point forward. He voiced a desire to see more night games, “because it gives an opportunity to the day shift to see a game occasionally.” To that point, teams were limited to just seven night home games each year and the Yankees, Red Sox, Tigers, Braves and Cubs had not yet installed lights. After the “Green Light Letter,” the commissioner permitted all teams to schedule up to 14 night home games while the Washington Senators were allowed to host 21 evening contests.

It is significant that the September 14 game occurs at night and against the Washington Nationals, successors in spirit to the Senators. Former Senators owner Clark Griffith is regarded as a key individual who convinced the President to permit major league baseball to continue during World War II. This Nationals-Mets game is a reminder that baseball was a major morale booster during the global conflict 60 years ago, and that the Washington franchise played a major role in keeping the stadiums open at all.

The September 14 tribute was also the catalyst that has caused the Baseball Hall of Fame to consider adding a name to its list of 526 major league players, executives, and umpires and Negro league players who served in the military during World War II. The former commander of Post 50, the late Bob Cremins, pitched four games for the Red Sox in 1927 and served extensively in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. Because of the long gap between his major league and military service, Cremins was not included in the Hall of Fame list. After verification, it is likely that the former resident of Pelham will be the 527th individual added to the register of players who defended America against the Axis tyranny.

Two of the players on the list – Capt. Harry O’Neill, a former member of the Philadelphia Athletics and an Army pilot who was shot down over France on his 27th birthday, and Lt. Elmer Gedeon, a former member of the Senators who was killed in infantry action on Iwo Jima – joined more than 40 minor leaguers and more than 400,000 other Americans in sacrificing their lives while fighting for freedom.

The American Legion, with 2.7 million members, is the world's largest veteran's association. The Department of New York is one of The American Legion’s largest state organizations with 1,003 local “Posts” and membership of more than 170,000 Legionnaires. Post 50 in Pelham, N.Y., commanded in 2004-2005 by Michael Barrett, organizes Pelham's Memorial Day parade and a variety of other veteran's and community support projects. Earlier this year, Post 50 initiated ceremonies commemorating the 60th anniversary of the end of WWII in Italy. Members of Post 50 and its traveling party, which grew to include veterans from around the USA, participated in ceremonies on May 2 at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Nettuno and conducted three wreath-laying ceremonies: on May 2 at the British Beach Head Cemetery in Anzio, on May 3 at the Polish Cemetery in Montecassino, and on May 5 at the Florence American Cemetery in Florence.

Contact:
John Chuhran
(914) 235-5523

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