Steve Burns
WASHINGTON – (WMAL) The Washington Nationals open their home slate on Thursday against the Miami Marlins, and before the game the team will be honoring first responders who were killed and injured in the line of duty over the past year and a half.
“Someone with the Nats organization reached out to the department, and we were very honored,” Prince William County Police spokesman Jonathan Perok told WMAL. “To have our home team reach out to us, it means a lot.”
The Nats will have a moment of silence to honor the police and firefighters killed on duty since January 1, 2015. That list includes Prince William County Officer Ashley Guindon, Prince George’s County Officers Jacai Colson and Brennan Rabain, Montgomery County Officer Noah Leotta, and D.C. Firefighter Kevin McRae.
“Unfortunately, our area has experienced a great loss. For them to recognize that and to show support is extremely overwhelming,” Perok said.
The ceremonial first pitches will be thrown by Prince William County Officers Jesse Hempen and David McKeown, who were injured in the Feb. 27 incident in Woodbridge where Officer Guindon was gunned down on her first day on the job. Perok said both officers are excited, but their recoveries are not over.
“Both officers are home. One of the officers, David, has at least one more surgery ahead of him. Jesse is doing really well with his recovery and therapy. We’re hoping to continue moving forward.”
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