The recent New York Legion Baseball Championship held in
Utica reached beyond baseball, according to tournament committee member Tony
Camardo.
"The event started with 11 players spending time
with veterans who reside at St. Luke’s Home," Camardo wrote in an op-ed
piece appearing in the Aug. 18th Utica Observer-Dispatch.
"Then it shifted to the field, where it was all
about baseball and veterans.
"We had a number of color guards deliver our
colors; first pitches were served up by Retired Major General Russell Czerw,
the Honorable Mayor of Utica, Robert Palmieri, and Councilman-at-large Frank
Meola."
After Murname Field "came alive for five days of
great baseball competition," then the "community stepped to the
plate," Camardo wrote.
"Through the generosity of our sponsors and their
employees, a donation of $10,000 was made to the Veteran’s Outreach Center"
supporting local jobless and homeless veterans.
