Twins Announce Plans For Special 9/11 Remembrance Tomorrow And 21st Armed Forces Appreciation Day On Saturday, September 14
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL, MN – The Minnesota Twins today announced plans for two special commemorations during the current homestand at Target Field. Tomorrow, Wednesday, September 11, the Twins will join all Major League baseball in remembrance of September 11, 2001. Then, this Saturday, September 14, the Twins, in partnership with the Minnesota National Guard, will honor and celebrate veterans and active service members from all six branches of the U.S. Armed Forces during a special recognition of Armed Forces Appreciation Day.
Both tomorrow’s Twins vs. Los Angeles Angels game at 6:10 p.m. and Saturday’s Twins vs. Cincinnati Reds contest at 6:10 p.m. will feature special pre- and in-game ceremonies and tributes, including a Target Field flyover prior to each game.
Tickets Available
Tickets for the Twins vs. Los Angeles Angels game at 6:10 p.m. on Wednesday, September 11, along with the Twins vs. Cincinnati Reds contest at 6:10 p.m. on Saturday, September 14, are available at twins.com, by calling 612-33-TWINS or 800-33-TWINS, or in-person at the Target Field Ticket Office. Active military members or veterans with a valid ID, plus up to three guests, can receive half-price Diamond Box High or Home Plate View tickets on September 11 and 14, courtesy of Evolv Technology and Bally Sports North (available day of game only).
9/11 Remembrance – Wednesday vs. Los Angeles Angels (6:10 p.m. first pitch; gates open at 5:00 p.m.)
On the 23rd anniversary of September 11, 2001, the Twins and Angels will join Major League Baseball and all 30 Clubs to remember and honor those we lost on that tragic day, the heroism of all who sacrificed their own lives to save others, and those who continue to bravely serve our communities and country.
Starting at approximately 5:50 p.m., special pre- and in-game elements are scheduled to include:
- The placing of six wreaths, each representing a different group and commemorating lives lost, behind the pitcher’s mound, where they will remain throughout pregame ceremonies; they will then be moved to the flag poles near Gate 34 for the game. A wreath honoring the United States Armed Forces will be placed by retired Brigadier General Tim Kennedy, who served in the Minnesota National Guard from 1970-2007; one remembering Law Enforcement will be placed by Hennepin County Sherriff Dawanna Witt and New Hope Police Department Chief Tim Hoyt; one paying tribute to Firefighters will be placed by three members of Engine Company No. 8 of the Minneapolis Fire Department; one recognizing Emergency Medical Services will be placed by Tim Beager and Alex Flores of Hennepin County EMS; one commemorating American Citizens will be laid by Sue Kennedy, wife of retired Brigadier General Tim Kennedy and a former accountant who now volunteers as treasurer for the Minnesota Military Family Foundation; and one honoring International Citizens will be laid by Arwin Shamal, who was born and raised in Afghanistan, and served as a sergeant in the Afghan military and as an interpreter to a U.S. contractor for the U.S. Army.
- The American flag will be hoisted in honor of those lost during the 9/11 terrorist attacks and during the war on terrorism; it will be raised by retired Army Colonel Angela Steward-Randal, who served in the Minnesota National Guard for 30 years and returned from active military status in May 2018. She was deployed to Kosovo from 2003-04 in support of Operation Joint Guardian and again from 2009-10, to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Throughout her career, she served in multiple positions culminating in a role as Director of Human Resources, Manpower and Personnel.
- The National Anthem will be performed by trumpeter Mark Holton.
- A giant American flag will be unfurled on the field, held by MyTwins members.
- A pregame flyover will feature four F-35 Lightning IIs from the 421st Fighter Squadron – known as the “Black Widows” – based out of Hill Air Force Base in Utah. The flyover pilots attended the United States Air Force Academy with Twins pitcher Griffin Jax (a captain in the U.S. Air Force Reserve): Captain Benjamin “Funk” Hawkins, Captain Parker “Mad” Jax (younger brother of Griffin), Captain Mandy “Fire” Cannon and Captain Chandler “Goldie” Jax (wife of Parker and sister-in-law of Griffin).
- A ceremonial first pitch will be thrown by Captain Carson Jax, twin brother of Parker Jax and younger brother of Griffin Jax. Carson currently flies the C-5M Super Galaxy, the U.S. Department of Defense’s largest airplane.
- God Bless America will be performed by Kijana Grant.
21st annual Armed Forces Appreciation Day – Saturday, September 14 vs. Cincinnati Reds (6:10 p.m. first pitch; gates open at 4:00 p.m.)
Throughout Saturday’s game, the Twins will honor veterans and active service members from all six branches of the military on the 21st annual Armed Forces Appreciation Day. This year’s version of this special in-ballpark event, which began at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in 2003, focuses on honoring military spouses and highlighting military members. This year’s theme is honoring military spouses.
Armed Forces Appreciation Day is also about recognizing civilian organizations and companies that play a key role in our nation’s defense by providing exceptional support before, during and after deployment for citizen service members active today in the Minnesota National Guard and Reserves. The Twins, a proud Yellow Ribbon Company, donated 1,000 tickets to Saturday’s game for active and retired members of the U.S. military.
Through the “Seats for Soldiers” program, many Champions Club and Thrivent Club season ticket holders, along with suite holders, have generously donated their tickets to wounded warriors and current service members and their families. Additionally, Gold Star Families, whose loved ones served and died while on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States of America or its allies, will be hosted in donated suites and seats.
The ceremonies will be emceed by Iraq War veteran John Kriesel, who currently works as the Director of Veteran Services for Anoka County. Kriesel enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard as an infantryman at age 17 and retired after 10 years of service, achieving the rank of staff sergeant; he also later served as a Minnesota State Representative from 2011-13. He deployed to Kosovo in 2004 and volunteered for deployment in Iraq in 2006. In December 2006, he was on a combat patrol when his Humvee encountered an improvised explosive device; the blast killed two of his friends and resulted in the amputation of both of his legs. His book “Still Standing – The Story of SSG John Kriesel” was published in 2010 and has won eight national book awards.
Starting at approximately 5:20 p.m., special pre- and in-game elements are scheduled to include:
Military vehicles on display at Target Plaza outside Gate 29.
Performances by the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division’s Red Devil Rock Band from the third-floor balcony.
The traditional “Race Around the Bases” will feature 7-year-old Micah Konkol (son of Army Major Diana Rommelfanger-Konkol and Iraq War veteran Zak Konkol) will take on 7-year-old Lucas Miller (son of Army Major Tommy Miller and Alex Miller). Major Rommelfanger-Konkol and Major Miller are currently deployed in the Middle East with the 34th Infantry Division.
Minnesotans’ Military Appreciation Fund (MMAF) Grants, presented by MMAF Board Member and Air Force veteran Zach Husted, will be awarded to the following:
Sergeant Samantha Pree-Stinson of Minneapolis, who served with the 10th Mountain Division, United States Army from 2003 to 2007 and deployed to Afghanistan during her service.
Captain Andrea Garton of Saint Paul, who serves with the 934th Air Wing, United States Air Force Reserve and deployed last year to Kuwait and Jordan.
Corporal Eric Lewis of Wyoming, who served with the 2nd Battalion 23rd Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, United States Army from 2008 to 2012.
As part of the Twins’ longstanding support of the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MAC-V) and its mission to end veteran homelessness in our state, the club will welcome MAC-V’s Sara Riegel as she hands over the key to a brand-new house – the 14th completed since 2017 and third this year – to Malcalisha Jefferson, her spouse, Anthony, and their five children.
More than 30 Families of the Fallen will be hosted in donated suites and special seats; families will display photos of their fallen service members on their respective suite balconies during the pregame ceremonies.
As per Armed Forces Appreciation Day tradition, the Twins will remember and pay tribute to Twins Territory service members whom we have lost during the past year. We remember Colonel Doug Larsen, Staff Sergeant Pedro Samaniego, Sergeant Kori Tillman, Sergeant Major Samuel Barta, Second Lieutenant Shelly Fink, Master Sergeant Nicholas Van Pelt, Master Sergeant Corey Ebach, Specialist Kyle Gustafson, Staff Sergeant Daniel Fernando, Sergeant Thomas Draz, Lieutenant Colonel Krista Labbe, Sergeant Cade Wolf, Sergeant First Class Lance Snyder, Sergeant First Class Nickolas Young, Sergeant First Class Colton Sik, Private Mario Sanchez-Salinas, Lieutenant Colonel Philip Maxwell, Colonel Jacob Helgestad, Master Sergeant Stephan Mackellar, Specialist Colt Lewis and Private Marlin Chase.
In recognition of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), which assists in fostering a culture in which employers support and value the employment and military service of members of the National Guard and Reserves, the Twins will celebrate two companies that received a national-level ESGR award (the Freedom Award) – League of Minnesota Cities from St. Paul (public sector category) and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota from Eagan (large company category).
The following groups will be recognized and saluted on the field in honor of, and gratitude for, their service; each will walk through a flag line held by local members of the Patriot Guard Riders, a nationwide volunteer 501(c)(3) organization that stands for unity and respect towards military members and veterans:
Soldiers and their families from three Minnesota National Guard units that have returned this year from deployment: the 682nd Engineer Headquarters, the 850th Engineer Company, the 257th Military Police Company and the Support Maintenance Company, representing the approximately 400 Minnesota troops that were deployed for more than a year; the Bloomington-based 347th Regional Support Group, whose soldiers deployed to the Middle East to enable the successful deployment and redeployment of units throughout the area; and the St. Paul-based 133rd Airlift Wing, which returns from a three-month deployment to the Horn of Africa.
Spouses of military members will be recognized and walk through the Patriot Guard flags. Prior to the game, current and former service members will pin their spouses with a lapel pin, in tribute to the strength, resilience and commitment of those who stand beside our men and women before, during or after their service.
Minnesota National Guard Adjutant General Major General Shawn Manke and National Guard Association of Minnesota President Brett Setterlund will present Twins President & CEO Dave St. Peter and Twins staff members with the National Guard Association of United States’ Patrick Henry Award, in recognition of the organization’s longtime support of service members, veterans and their families.
Following a tradition that began with the first Armed Forces Appreciation Day, when a member of the military threw out the first pitch while stationed in Iraq, an active servicemember will again throw out a ceremonial first pitch: Major Diana Rommelfanger-Konkol of the Minnesota National Guard, Red Bull 34th Infantry Division. Major Rommelfanger-Konkol is a full-time member of the Minnesota National Guard and while deployed is serving as the Task Force Spartan Medical Plans Officer. Diana will toss the baseball to her military spouse, Zak Konkol – a United States Marine Corps combat veteran who served in Iraq from 2004-05. Zak will be joined on the field by his and Diana’s three children, Ari, Micah, and Elia; his father, Ron, who is a Vietnam War veteran; his mother, Cathi; and his mother-in-law, Denise.
A special Perkins Starting Lineup will be introduced on the field, comprised of spouses whose loved ones are deployed to the Middle East with the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division: Amanda, spouse of Sergeant First Class Brandon Moren; Alex, spouse of Major Tommy Miller; James, spouse of Captain Kayla Voelker; Sharon, spouse of Chief Warrant Officer 3 Harold Coverdell; Kelsey, spouse of Sergeant First Class Shane, Kramer; Stacey, spouse of Major Christopher Hiller; Angela, spouse of Second Lieutenant Phillip Jones; Jake, spouse of Chief Warrant Officer two Shonia Griffin; and Tonia, spouse of Lieutenant Colonel Jay Hackett.
The Twins Territory flag will be raised by raised by a husband and child of a deployed service member. Ron Stenger, husband, and Kylie, daughter of Major Jackie Stenger, who is currently deployed with the 34th Infantry Division and has served 33 years in the Guard.
The American flag will be raised by World War II Veteran John "Jack" Andrashko. At the age of 19, Jack joined the United States Army as an artillery man and served in the European theater from July 1944 to January 1946. He celebrated his 100th birthday this August and at his birthday, Jack was finally awarded his service medals from his time in service, including his bronze star medal.
The National Anthem will be performed by Technical Sergeant Ben Churchill from the Minnesota National Guard’s 148th Fighter Wing.
A pregame flyover will feature Chinook and Black Hawk helicopters from the St. Paul and St. Cloud-based 34th Combat Aviation Brigade.
Twins broadcast partners Bally Sports North and the Treasure Island Baseball Network will celebrate the men and women of the Minnesota National Guard during both pregame coverage and during select inning breaks via stories, interviews and special “shout-outs” from currently deployed service members; additionally, the National Anthem will be televised live.