The San Diego Padres will conduct U.S. Marine Corps Appreciation Day at Sunday’s interleague game against the Kansas City Royals at Petco Park, including 100-year-old retired Col. James “Rip” Harper performing the national anthem.
The ceremonial first pitch will be thrown by Lt. Gen. Lewis Craparotta, commanding general, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.
Pregame ceremonies will also include 70 future Marines taking the Oath of Enlistment from Maj. Jared Reddinger, commanding officer of the U.S. Marine Corps Recruiting Station San Diego; over 100 representatives from the Marine Corps lining the bases; and recognition of seven Navy ROTC scholarship recipients.
Nine drill instructors from the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego will take the field to greet Padres starters at each position as part of “Military Take the Field.”
A flyover will be conducted by F/A-18 Hornets from VMFAT-101, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, MCAS Miramar.
KidsFest will begin at 11 a.m. at Park at the Park with activities including bounce houses, inflatables, games, face painting and balloon artists.
Padres players and coaches will take pictures with Compadres Kids members on the warning track from noon-12:30 p.m. as part of Compadres Kids Pregame Photo Day. Compadres Kids will line up at Park at the Park.
A Compadres Kids membership is required to participate. Membership is free. Registration can be made online or at Petco Park Sunday.
Children 14 and under will be able to run the bases on the field after the game. The children and their families can begin lining up following the conclusion of the eighth inning at the top of the ramp leading to the San Diego Beach on K Street.
Compadres Kids members will receive front-of-the-line privileges by lining up at the Park Boulevard gate.
— City News Service
