FOX Sports South Honors Our Nation's Military

FOX Sports South Hosts 2nd Annual

Tribute to the Troops at Turner Field

On Sunday, July 1, FOX Sports South partnered with the Atlanta Braves to honor more than 150 members of our nation’s military, home for 15 days of rest and recuperation, with a Tribute to the Troops celebration at Turner Field.  A special military themed Sunday Braves on FOX Sports South telecast, beginning at 1 p.m. ET with Braves LIVE, included highlights from all of the day’s Tribute to the Troops events and messages from Braves fans stationed at military bases around the world. 

Major Mark Brown joins Joe Simpson, Tom Glavine and Chip Caray

in the FOX Sports South broadcast booth to discuss ways

 that viewers can contribute to “Operation Send-Off”.

The day began at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport, where charter buses picked up troops after they dropped off their baggage and checked in for evening flights.  A police escort led the buses to Turner Field, where the men and women received a heroes’ welcome on the red carpet, cheered on by fans, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, the Braves Tomahawk Team and the Heavy Hitters Drumline.  

Media coverage included pre-event publicity in the Atlanta Journal Constitution and AJC.com’s weekend “Best Bets” encouraging fans to arrive at the game early on Sunday to line the red carpet, and day-of-event coverage from FoxSportsSouth.com, the Atlanta Journal Constitution, AJC.com, AP Photo, and local TV stations including WAGA (FOX), WXIA (NBC), WGCL (CBS), and WSB (ABC).



FOX Sports South and SportSouth Sr. VP and General Manager,

Jeff Genthner is interviewed by FOX-5 and WSB (ABC) Atlanta

At a pregame hospitality reception, the troops were welcomed by FOX Sports South and SportSouth Senior Vice President and General Manager, Jeff Genthner,  Major General Jim Butterworth of the Georgia National Guard and Major Mark Brown of the Atlanta Personnel Assistance Point’s Rest and Recuperation Program.



FOX Sports South and SportSouth Sr. VP and General Manager,

Jeff Genthner with Major Mark Brown and Major General Jim Butterworth

As the troops lined up to take the field for pregame ceremonies, Genthner presented each soldier with a commemorative FOX Sports South Challenge Coin.

  

 

FOX Sports South and SportSouth Sr. VP and General Manager,

Jeff Genthner presenting Challenge Coins to the Troops before

the pre-game ceremony.

Ceremonies honoring the troops on the field included messages from Georgia Governor Nathan Deal and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed that were simulcast on the broadcast, as the service men and women lined the base paths for a pregame salute from the teams and the fans.  Braves and Nationals players, upon seeing the military men and women lining the bases, ran out from the dugouts to line the basepaths side by side with the troops. 

Brian McCann and Eric O'Flaherty stand united with the
troops during "Proud to be an American" before the game.

Fans at the game and watching from home were able to take part in the salute by tweeting their messages of support and gratitude for the troops to @FoxSportsSouth with the hashtag #FSTribute. 



As the game concluded, the troops headed back to Hartsfield Jackson International Airport via charter bus and police escort, and returned to active duty shortly thereafter.  Most of the soldiers in attendance thought they were “just” coming to a Braves game for the day, but had no idea that they were about to receive a red carpet heroes welcome, pregame reception, on field ceremony, and the outpouring of love and gratitude that awaited them at Turner Field and from across “Braves Country” as viewers watched the many tributes on the FOX Sports South telecast and sent in their messages of support.

FSSouth Tribute to the Troops T-shirts were
given to everyone in attendance.