A's to Honor Bay Area Firefighters on Saturday, Sept. 11th “A’s Firefighter Appreciation Night” to Honor Heroes and Promote Fire Safety Awareness Published on Sep 8, 2010 - 12:27:58 PM
OAKLAND, Calif. September 8, 2010 – The Oakland Athletics will honor local firefighters on Saturday, Sept. 11 prior to their 6:05 p.m. game against the Boston Red Sox at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Often referred to as Unofficial National Firefighter's Day or National Day of Service and Remembrance, Sept. 11 has become a day to salute local heroes and promote community involvement.
As a part of “Firefighter Appreciation Night,” the A’s will pay tribute to more than 50 Bay Area firefighters, including local fire chiefs, during a special on-field pre-game ceremony set to begin at 5:40 pm. During the ceremony, the Oakland Fire Department Honor Guard will present the colors and Oakland Fire Captain Larry Sampson will sing the national anthem and God Bless America. There will also be a moment of silence for those who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Throwing out the ceremonial first pitches of the game will be three of the area’s longest tenured firefighters, Alameda County Firefighter Hollis Franks (38 years of service), San Jose Captain Doug Stewart (48 years service) and San Francisco Battalion Chief Mike Morris (36 years of service).
The A’s also will honor local civilian heroes during a pre-game presentation, including a Manteca three-year old (Alesaundra Tafoya) who saved her father’s life by walking two blocks by herself to the fire station to get help; a Richmond man (Sylvester Wiggins) who forced his way into a burning building to save a trapped family; an Elk Grove man (Gilbert Rodriguez) whose quick reaction to a fire-igniting spark between his neighbor’s homes saved the two families lives; and a group of high school students who are teaching fire safety tips to tenants of single-room-occupancy buildings in San Francisco’s Chinatown.
During the game, the A’s will demonstrate fire safety tips in between innings and run public service announcements to promote fire safety awareness and prevention on the A's video board. In addition, Smokey Bear, mascot of the U.S. Forest Service that educates the public on the dangers of forest fires, along with members of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), will be greeting fans as they enter at C Gate. Also at C Gate will be the Oakland Fire Department Parade Fire Engine.
In addition, funds will be raised for firefighter charitable organizations in support of local burn foundations, fire safety and educational programs, or other community organizations. A portion of the proceeds raised through the A’s silent auction, set up behind section 120 from the time the gates open until the end of the fifth inning, will benefit the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation of Northern California, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing burns and fires and providing services to those who have been affected by a burn injury.
Two ticket price levels are available for this special fundraising event, Field Level for $28 and Plaza Level for $26, with $4 from each of those tickets sold donated to the designated charity. Tickets can be purchased online at oaklandathletics.com/firefighter with the password HERO. The local firefighter charitable organizations to choose from include:
* Oakland Firefighters Random Acts
* San Jose Charitable Donations Program
* San Francisco Firefighter's Toy Program
* Contra Costa County Charity/American Red Cross Bay Area Chapter
* Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation of Northern California
Fans living outside those listed areas can have the $4 portions donated back to their own town's firefighter's charity, providing the group purchases 25 or more tickets. For more information on how to purchase group tickets for “A’s Firefighter Appreciation Night” please call (510) 563-2336.
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