New York Yankees to Celebrate July 4th with TAPS and the Children of America's Fallen Military Heroes at 'Field of Dreams'

Team will host 20 surviving children from New York and across the nation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 2, 2018

ARLINGTON, Va. –- For the fourth straight year, the New York Yankees and the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) will welcome the families of America’s fallen military heroes to their "Field of Dreams" event to honor their loved ones and celebrate Independence Day.

Children who have lost a loved one in service to America, some of whom are from New York and others who are coming from across the country, will be paired with a starting player and will take the field for the National Anthem prior to the July 4th game against the Atlanta Braves at Yankee Stadium.

"TAPS is incredibly grateful to the New York Yankees for the opportunity to once again honor America's fallen heroes at Yankee Stadium on the Fourth of July," said Bonnie Carroll, TAPS President and Founder. "Surviving military children will be able to honor their loved ones while making new memories with one of Major League Baseball’s greatest teams."

The families’ participation in ‘Field of Dreams’ was facilitated by the TAPS sports program, teams4taps, which creates meaningful opportunities for the surviving families of America's military fallen to honor their heroes by engaging with​ ​the ​athletes and teams they cheered for together. teams4taps works with more than 150 sports teams across the country, and since its inception in 2013, has touched the lives of thousands of surviving military family members.

WHEN: July 4, 2018 before the start of the 1:05 p.m. game

WHERE: Yankee Stadium, 1 E 161st St., Bronx, New York

INTERVIEW AVAILABILITY:

  • Bonnie Carroll, TAPS President and Founder 
  • Diana Hosford, TAPS Vice President, Sports and Entertainment
  • Surviving military families - Surviving military families attending the game (must be pre-arranged)  Media are invited to cover the event and will have an opportunity to speak with local families sharing stories of their fallen heroes.

MEDIA RSVP REQUIRED:
Email Rita Corke-Barry at rita@taps.org or call 202.588.TAPS (8277) to request credentials.

YANKEE STADIUM PRESS CREDENTIAL REQUESTS TO: credentials@yankees.com

ABOUT TAPS

The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is the national organization providing compassionate care for the families of America’s fallen military heroes and has offered support to more than 75,000 surviving family members of our fallen military and their caregivers since 1994. TAPS provides peer-based emotional support, grief and trauma resources, grief seminars and retreats for adults, Good Grief Camps for children, case work assistance, connections to community-based care, online and in-person support groups and a 24/7 resource and information helpline for all who have been affected by a death in the Armed Forces. Services are provided free of charge. For more information go to www.taps.org or call the toll-free TAPS resource and information helpline at 1.800.959.TAPS (8277).

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