Jul 9, 2008 4:47 pm US/Eastern
Local Hero Throws First Pitch At Red Sox Game
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
A heroic Chelmsford soldier, who was injured in Iraq trying to save the life of a comrade, threw out the first pitch at Wednesday's Red Sox game as part of the team's Seats For Soldiers program.
Army Sgt. Michelle Saunders is a Bronze Star and Purple Heart recipient. She broke her back while carrying a mortally wounded fellow soldier from a battle site, under heavy fire.
"It's an honor," Saunders said about throwing out the first pitch. "I'm hoping that people enjoy it and appreciate it. It's coming from the heart."
Saunders is a graduate of Northeastern University and captained the All-Army softball team. Before throwing out the first pitch, Saunders said she was getting nervous.
"Everybody keeps asking me, 'Are you nervous?'" Saunders said. "I'm more nervous now than I was. I had to testify before Congress. That was nothing. I'm like, wow, here I am standing at Fenway Park. Quite an honor…So play ball. Let's hope I don't hit the dirt."
Saunders was all smiles as she threw her pitch. She represented well, just as she did in Iraq.
Players and season ticket holders donated tickets to Wednesday's game to honor members of the U.S. Military.
During the 7th inning stretch, the more than 1,000 soldiers at the game stood and were recognized before the singing of God Bless America. During innings, individual messages from soldiers serving in Iraq at Camp Fallujah were shown on the video board.
Nick Witters is stationed in Massachusetts but is from Washington state and said he never got a chance to see Fenway Park until Wednesday.
"Everyone's like, 'When you go to Boston, you have to go to a Boston game,'" he said. "I'm going to tell my mom about it. Pretty cool."
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
