A swing and a salute

SUN CITY – More than 50 of the players in the Sun City Softball Club are military veterans.

At every game in in Sun City’s three softball leagues, they are introduced by name, as athletes. Most of them played in prominent slow-pitch softball leagues in their younger days, especially in Chicago, and some won championships. Some of them are in the sport’s Hall of Fame.

On June 30, all of them will be individually recognized for a different reason – for their service as military veterans who served their country in peace and war. The occasion is the 2nd annual Honor the Veterans celebration. It is being organized by the Sun City Softball Charter Club, under the leadership of its president, Glenn Groebli. Festivities begin at 3 p.m., and it is expected to be one of the largest recognitions of veterans in the Sun City area.

Many other veterans who live in the community are expected to attend and represent their branch of service – Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force.

“We want to pack the place with veterans and their families. Our focus will be on softball players who served,” Groebli told the Sun Day. “Each of them will be invited to the field and will be introduced individually. The other veterans will join others from their branch of service and be introduced as a group.”

Groebli mentioned that last year’s event was a success.

“We did the first one here last year, and it worked really well,” Groebli said. “We hope this one will be even better. We’ve tried to pack this one with a lot of activities to give everyone present a chance to enjoy themselves. I got the idea for this when I visited a friend in Florida, and they have made it an annual event.”

This year’s event will begin with a welcome address by Groebli, singing of God Bless America and the national anthem by Emilie Knieriemen, a student at Hampshire High School. Players will enter the field in groups according to branch of service – Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force. Their respective branch “fight songs” will be played. Taps will be played to honor deceased veterans who played softball.

A special feature will be the game broadcast by Huntley Radio, simultaneously to the fans attending the festivities. The player-veterans will be divided into two teams and will play a “maximum” of six innings, Groebli said.

Each player will receive an “Honor the Veterans” shirt and hat displaying their branch of service. After the game, veterans will be treated to hot dogs, Italian sausage, and ice cream. Jameson’s will serve beer and win.

“We also will recognize our sponsors – Huntley Realty, Country Financial, DeFiore-Jorgenson Funeral Home, First National Bank, and Chuck Chodl, real estate agent with Baird & Warner,” Groebli said.

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