Son of deployed PA helps start 2013 World Series

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Rob Hazelett
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  When Lindsey Miller, wife of Capt. Garrett Miller, received a call from the Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., Airman and Family Readiness Center Oct. 22, little did she know she was about to answer a call from destiny.

A member from the Boston Red Sox staff was on the other end offering her an opportunity for her child to make the ceremonial call to start this year's World Series. The Red Sox organization offered this opportunity to a child whose parent is currently deployed to an overseas location.

Once she accepted, Lindsey worked with the Red Sox to iron out the details said Capt. Garrett Miller, a physician assistant currently working in flight medicine for the 4th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, deployed from Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass. Capt. Miller is a native of Glastonbury, Conn., and a life-long Red Sox fan.

The next evening, their 5-year old son Jacoby stood on the field with his mother and declared, "Play Ball" during the pregame ceremony to begin the 2013 World Series at Fenway Park.

"I'm incredibly grateful to the Red Sox' staff who showed Lindsey and Jacoby a great time," said Capt. Miller, a 17-year Air Force veteran. "Oct. 23 was, coincidentally, my wife's birthday and it was an amazing experience for both of them. It turned what could have been a tough day in the deployment into something very special for all of us."

Miller said his son tends to be shy, but he was able to be bribed into the experience with promises of pizza, popcorn and ice cream.

"He collected and enjoyed himself. They were kind enough to give him the Red Sox jacket and also had seats in the grandstand behind home plate with an awesome view of the game," Miller added. "In the picture, you'll see him looking off to his left; that's him catching sight of himself in the jumbotron and freezing up. They quickly turned off the jumbotron and he got the words out with a little prompting from my wife."

Capt. Miller didn't get the opportunity to witness his son declaring a start to the game. He said he woke up at 3 a.m. to catch the pregame, but that portion wasn't televised in the broadcast.

"A family member was able to tape a video clip from behind home plate, so I received that about 15 minutes after the start of the game," he said.