Post by dogcatcher on Sept 21, 2007 6:11:32 GMT -4
Dressing room staff will show support for troops
Marty Klinkenberg
Telegraph-Journal
Published Friday September 21st, 2007
Appeared on page B12
SAINT JOHN - David Kelly saw the soldiers marching and shared a dining hall with them when the Saint John Sea Dogs spent a week of training camp at CFB Gagetown last month. He recognized how disciplined and professional they are, and wanted to thank them for serving the country.
So the team's equipment manager has decided to wear a red shirt during every Friday home game at Harbour Station this season, starting with tonight's 7:30 opener against Cape Breton.
"I was trying to think of something we could do in appreciation for them and it hit me as we were eating supper one night,'' said Kelly, who is being joined in the show of support this season by his assistant Nathan Belliveau and Jeff Kelly, the Sea Dogs' athletic therapist. "It struck me how special these people are to go through what they go through, and I wanted to do anything I could do to raise awareness.
"Not only would they take a bullet for one another, they would take a bullet for me or anyone else at any time."
In addition, Kelly has invited two guests to tonight's game.
On Thursday, he left tickets for Don and Laurie Greenslade, the parents of a fallen soldier from Saint John. Pte. David Greenslade, 20, died along with five comrades when the light armoured vehicle he was driving ran over an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan on Easter Sunday.
Since the incident, the Greenslades have asked New Brunswickers to wear red on Fridays to show support for Canadian troops, and are helping to promote a Red Friday rally on the Saint John waterfront a week from today.
Kelly said Thursday that he hopes fans attending home games on Friday will wear red shirts if they are not wearing a team sweater. He also is encouraging fans to pick up free red ribbons from the Greenslades during tonight's game.
Marty Klinkenberg
Telegraph-Journal
Published Friday September 21st, 2007
Appeared on page B12
SAINT JOHN - David Kelly saw the soldiers marching and shared a dining hall with them when the Saint John Sea Dogs spent a week of training camp at CFB Gagetown last month. He recognized how disciplined and professional they are, and wanted to thank them for serving the country.
So the team's equipment manager has decided to wear a red shirt during every Friday home game at Harbour Station this season, starting with tonight's 7:30 opener against Cape Breton.
"I was trying to think of something we could do in appreciation for them and it hit me as we were eating supper one night,'' said Kelly, who is being joined in the show of support this season by his assistant Nathan Belliveau and Jeff Kelly, the Sea Dogs' athletic therapist. "It struck me how special these people are to go through what they go through, and I wanted to do anything I could do to raise awareness.
"Not only would they take a bullet for one another, they would take a bullet for me or anyone else at any time."
In addition, Kelly has invited two guests to tonight's game.
On Thursday, he left tickets for Don and Laurie Greenslade, the parents of a fallen soldier from Saint John. Pte. David Greenslade, 20, died along with five comrades when the light armoured vehicle he was driving ran over an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan on Easter Sunday.
Since the incident, the Greenslades have asked New Brunswickers to wear red on Fridays to show support for Canadian troops, and are helping to promote a Red Friday rally on the Saint John waterfront a week from today.
Kelly said Thursday that he hopes fans attending home games on Friday will wear red shirts if they are not wearing a team sweater. He also is encouraging fans to pick up free red ribbons from the Greenslades during tonight's game.