The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox will stand together on April 1 to dedicate Opening Day to the 26 victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting that shook up Newton, Conn. three months ago.
Pregame ceremonies will feature joint honor guards of Newtown police and firefighters, along with a moment of silence, during which a list of the Sandy Hook victims’ names will be recognized on the center-field video board. The baseball rivals will wear a special ribbon on their uniforms to honor those lost and those affected by the tragedy. The ribbon will also be prominently painted on the field in front of both dugouts.
“Since the day of the tragedy, our hearts and thoughts have been with those who were affected,” Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner said in a statement. “We hope that bringing the families of Newtown together at Yankee Stadium later in the summer will give the community an opportunity to create new memories and aid in the difficult process of moving forward.”
“Months have passed, yet we are still trying to come to grips with this incomprehensible tragedy,” said Red Sox owner John Henry. “As our teams look to face each other on Opening Day, we will stand united in support of the families affected as we remember and honor those who were lost.”
The Yankees aren’t stopping at dedicating Opening Day to Sandy Hook victims. On Sunday, July 7, approximately 3,000 children, families and members of the Newtown community will be invited to watch the Yankees during “Newtown Day at Yankee Stadium”.
