New York Yankees to Celebrate Nation’s Birthday with TAPS and the Children of America’s Fallen Military Heroes at 'Field of Dreams'
Team will host 20 surviving children from New York and across the nation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 29, 2017
ARLINGTON, Va. -- For the third straight year, the New York Yankees and the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) will welcome the families of America’s fallen military heroes to their "Field of Dreams" event to honor their loved ones and celebrate Independence Day.
Children who have lost a loved one in service to America, some of whom are from New York and others who are coming from across the country, will be paired with a starting player and will take the field for the National Anthem prior to the July 4th game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium.
"TAPS is incredibly grateful to the New York Yankees for the opportunity to once again honor America's fallen heroes at Yankee Stadium on the nation’s birthday," said Bonnie Carroll, TAPS President and Founder. "Surviving military children will be able to honor their loved ones while making new memories with one of Major League Baseball’s greatest teams."
The families’ participation in ‘Field of Dreams’ was facilitated by the TAPS sports program, teams4taps, which creates meaningful opportunities for the surviving families of America's military fallen to honor their heroes by engaging with the athletes and teams they cheered for together. teams4taps works with more than 125 sports teams across the country, and since its inception in 2013, has touched the lives of thousands of surviving military family members.
The participating surviving military children have personal connections to the New York Yankees; many cheered on the team with their loved one.
ABOUT TAPS
The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is the national organization providing compassionate care for the families of America’s fallen military heroes and has offered support to more than 70,000 surviving family members of our fallen military and their caregivers since 1994. TAPS provides peer-based emotional support, grief and trauma resources, grief seminars and retreats for adults, Good Grief Camps for children, case work assistance, connections to community-based care, online and in-person support groups and a 24/7 resource and information helpline for all who have been affected by a death in the Armed Forces. Services are provided free of charge. For more information go to www.taps.org or call the toll-free TAPS resource and information helpline at 1.800.959.TAPS (8277).
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Media are invited to cover the event and will have an opportunity to speak to children who are coming from across the country and will be available to share their stories.
WHEN: July 4, 2017 before the start of the 1:05 p.m. game
WHERE: Yankee Stadium, 1 E 161st St., Bronx, N.Y.
WHO: Bonnie Carroll, TAPS President and Founder
Diana Hosford, TAPS Chief Officer, Sports and Entertainment
Surviving military families
MEDIA RSVP REQUIRED:
Email christine.fuentes@taps.org or call 800.959.TAPS (8277) to request credentials.
While many surviving family members are open to sharing their heroes' stories, TAPS asks that the media be mindful that some may need time to collect their thoughts. You can find tips on covering families of America's heroes at www.taps.org/media.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Twitter: @TAPSorg, @teams4taps
Instagram: @TAPSorg
Hashtag: #GratefulNation
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TAPSorg