445th AW Reservist recognized at Reds ceremony

  • Published
  • By Stacy Vaughn
  • 445th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  A reservist assigned to the 445th Civil Engineer Squadron was recognized along with three other Airmen and their families at the July 31 Cincinnati Reds pre-game ceremony during Wright Patterson Air Force Base Military Appreciation Day.

Tech. Sgt. Joe Heitzenrater, and his two sons, Mario and Luke, stood on the field at the Great American Ball Park when Lt. Gen. Thomas Owen, commander, Aeronautical Systems Center, helped honor the deployed returnees and their families. Each of their names were announced to a crowd of more than 40,000 baseball fans. Sergeant Heitzenrater's wife, Julia, and their young son, Vincent, viewed the festivities from the stands.

"What an amazing day. I'm a huge Reds fan so this was an amazing opportunity," Sergeant Heitzenrater said.

The sergeant returned from a 120-day deployment to Kirkuk Regional Air Base, Iraq, May 24, where he was assigned as a fire protection crew chief with the 506th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron.

The pre-game ceremony also included an oath of enlistment administered by the general for new enlistees on the field.

Upon conclusion of the ceremony, the base honor guard marched the colors down the field followed by the U.S. Air Force Band of Flight performing the national anthem. After the last note of music, a 445th Airlift Wing C-5 Galaxy flew over the scoreboard, marking the perfect conclusion of the pre-game festivities and the beginning of the game.