DAV and baseball off to grand slam start.

The grass is thick and green, the hot dogs are sizzling and the drinks are icy cold. Baseball is in the offing for thousands of disabled veterans and their guests from VA medical centers and nursing homes as the 2006 DAV Day at the Ballpark program gets underway. A host of Major and Minor League teams will spend the season saluting the courage and sacrifice of disabled veterans across the nation.

"This is our opportunity to show America that the DAV is the greatest veterans service organization in the world," said National Commander Paul W. Jackson. "And we will continue our program of service by bringing along as our guests the sick and disabled veterans from VA medical centers and nursing homes. It's great that we can provide an afternoon or evening of enjoyment for them."

DAV's participation began with the traditional opening game of the season in Cincinnati April 3, as 80 members, employees and guests of the DAV National Headquarters unfurled a huge American flag in center field while President George W. Bush threw out the first pitch of 2006.

The season for the Day at the Ballpark begins Saturday, May 20, in Kansas City and Milwaukee. At Kansas City's Kauffman Stadium the Royals entertain the St. Louis Cardinals with pre-game ceremonies featuring the DAV Department of Missouri. In Milwaukee, the Brewers play the Minnesota Twins, where Department of Wisconsin members and their guests will be saluted on the field and the first 2006 DAV baseball cards will be distributed to thousands of fans.

The Arizona Diamondbacks host the Pittsburgh Pirates May 22 in Phoenix's beautiful Chase Field as the salute to disabled veterans continues and more informative DAV baseball cards are handed out to fans.

The Memorial Day weekend sizzles with three games--the Cincinnati Reds welcome the Diamondbacks to the hometown of DAV's National Headquarters, a special salute to veterans takes place in San Francisco before the Giants play the Colorado Rockies and the Pacific Coast League Portland Beavers host their first DAV Day at the Ballpark game as they face the Sacramento River Cats in a Triple-A contest.

So far, 18 Major League teams and 11 Minor League franchises have scheduled DAV games or special events to salute veterans, and more teams are working on dates. Our award-winning video, "Baseball--Real American Heroes," returns to scoreboard screens in most of the ballparks and hundreds of thousands of fans will take home special DAV baseball cards.

"It's going to be another great season," said Commander Jackson. "We're grateful to these baseball teams for honoring disabled veterans so consistently each year. I hope that every member of the DAV and Auxiliary will make it to a game this year to support disabled veterans and the tributes paid to us by baseball."

For information on games, please contact the DAV National Service Officer or Department office in the home team's state.