Major League Baseball and People magazine named 90 finalists in the “Tribute for Heroes” campaign.
“Every veteran is a hero. You’ve chosen 30 representatives who will be recognized at this year’s MLB All-Star Game,” it said on the initiative’s website.
Only one veteran, Josemy Morales from Maplewood, Minnesota, was given the honor of raising the flag at the All-Star Game on July 15.
When Morales found out the news, he expressed his content in this Facebook post:
1. He Did 3 Tours in Afghanistan
Look who came to visit us — Josemy Morales! MORE: http://t.co/gjbU9c7Lyc He'll raise the flag at the #ASG tonight! pic.twitter.com/wZfj8ZuyBf
— FOX 9 News (@MyFOX9) July 15, 2014
The Army veteran once risked his life to save 3 Air Force soldiers during a day-long rocket attack.
Here is a picture of him on August 11, 2012 at Kandahar Airfield waiting to receive a combat action badge during an award ceremony.
Morales is honored to be representing his fellow soldiers.
“I’m excited to see the game, but the honor to actually represent our men and women in the armed forces is a great honor to actually be picked,” he told Fox.
2. His Wife Nominated Him
His wife, Maria Pabon, also from Puerto Rico, nominated her hero husband.
She works at the University of Minnesota as a coordinator in the College of Education and Human Development’s Deans Office.
The pair have a 3-year-old daughter.
The day of the game, the photo above was posted on Morales’ Facebook page with the caption, “We are ready!!!!”
3. He Works at the Minneapolis Foundation
@mplsfoundation’s J. Morales selected 2 raise flag @All Star Game. Army sergeant & combat hero, we are SO proud! pic.twitter.com/LADuQ20LuK
— The Mpls Foundation (@mplsfoundation) July 11, 2014
The organization’s website outlines its mission as providing “personalized, convenient, tax-smart giving solutions that enable generous Minnesotans to fund their charitable passions.”
His coworker Theresa Morrow is very happy for him. ” He told me that he and his wife hoped to go to the All-Star Game and couldn’t afford it and said, ‘That’s okay, we’ll watch it on TV,'” she told Fox.
The foundation even sent out this proud tweet:
More on our own Josemy Morales -> American hero to raise the flag at All-Star Game: http://t.co/FOFC2sr67V #proud #AllStarGame
— The Mpls Foundation (@mplsfoundation) July 15, 2014
4. He’s From Puerto Rico & Played Baseball for 18 Years
In an interview with Fox, he spoke about the importance of the sport in his native country:
It’s huge. I’m from Puerto Rico, so baseball is a huge deal. I played for 18 years.
5. He’s Charitable
Morales and his wife did a Cupid’s Undie Run to raise money for an 8-year-old boy with a brain tumor.
