Brewers Remember September 11 at Miller Park

Like the rest of America, the Brewers today remembered the tragedies of September 11, 2001.  What will always be a somber day has also became a day to remember, a day to honor and a day to say thanks.  Some of Milwaukee’s first responders–firefighters, police officers, paramedics and EMTs–were on the plaza outside the home plate gate to welcome fans to Miller Park.  Color guards from those same groups presented flags during the National Anthem.

Outside Miller Park on Tuesday. Photo: Jeff Hanisch

Some young Brewers fans get a tour from a Milwaukee Police Officer. Photo: Jeff Hanisch

One of the highlights of the pregame ceremony was a fly-over of four F-16s from the Air Force 115th Fighter Wing in Madison.  I had a pretty good angle of the fly-over from the Miller Park roof ring above the scoreboard.  There, I watched with Lt. Col. Charlie Merkel of the 115th Fighter Wing who communicated with the planes via radio.  Staff Sgt. Jeremy Wilson of the 128th Air Refeuling Wing photographed from atop Miller Park along with Brewers team photographer Scott Paulus and Sr. Director, Stadium Operations, Bob Hallas.

Lt. Col. Merkel phoning in instructions to the F-16 pilots.

The F-16s speed over Miller Park. Photo: Scott Paulus

I’m sorry if this video is a bit shaky, but my knees where trembling a bit as I was pretty high up on the ring of the Miller Park roof.

Flyover2012

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If you were here at Miller Park tonight (or if you live in the neighborhood), surely you heard the jets rumble by.  Merkle told me that the came in at about 1,000 feet and were traveling at a speed around 560 knots.  It took them just over 12 minutes to get to Miller Park from Madison.  They circled high over the ballpark a few times and then came from the east.  I can’t remember too many fly-overs in my eight years here with the Brewers (I organized one a few years ago and was disappointed when it was cancelled at the last minute due to low clouds), so tonight was surely a treat.

Miller Park from on top of the scoreboard tonight.

A special thanks to all of our servicemen and women and our first responders as we remember the lives lost on September 11, 2001.  We will certainly never forget and will always use this day to remember.

–JOHN 

johnandcait@brewers.com