Annual softball event fosters camaraderie among veterans in Chicago

CHICAGO (WGN) – There was some friendly competition on the softball field Saturday as veterans and active service members participated in a day of appreciation.

It was Team Red, White and Blue against Team Verging Vets & Players.

“It’s nice all branches of service come together on one team,” U.S. Navy Veteran Kimberly McGraw said.

Before serving her skills on the field, McGraw served her country after 9/11. After returning home from service, she faced some challenges like PTSD. Connecting with other veterans in a competitive and fun way, she said, is good for her.

“Things like this event like this really brings us together,” she said.

Uniting veterans with each other for some family friendly fun at Kosciuszko Park was the goal of the 14th annual Chicagoland Softball Tournament & Veteran Family Fest. It was organized by Merging Vets and Players, a peer-to-peer support group supporting veterans and former athletes.

“As we all well know, sometimes veterans deal with problems, isolate a lot, so we wanted to have something that was easy for a veteran to get up, get outside and enjoy themselves,” Marlon Harris of Merging Vets & Players said.

Members of the DuPage Honor Guard were also in Saturday’s crowd.

“Vietnam was hot and sticky. Korea was cold, really cold, but I wouldn’t pass it up for the word,” Sgt. Jim Myrick, Army veteran and DuPage Honor Guard member, said.

Twenty-eight-year Army Veteran Cassandra Taylor said she enjoyed the camaraderie Saturday’s event brought.

“I always have to come out and support our veterans, not just that I served, too, but let them know that I’m here for them as well,” Taylor said. “A lot of times, the community think it’s only men, but we women have served and contributed as well.”