Tom Seaver Pays Tribute On Veterans Day
NEW YORK (WCBS 880) - Hall of Fame pitcher and retired Marine Tom Seaver is in New York for Veterans Day, saluting both veterans and active duty service personnel.
Seaver, who started his career with the New York Mets, joined WCBS 880 anchor Pat Farnack on the air Friday morning.
WCBS 880 Interview: Farnack With Seaver
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TS: One of the most important things I did in my life was at the suggestion of my dad in 1962 because I was not a very good student, and was just sort of slow growing up, and he said 'It might be good to go into the Marine Corps.'
That three months of boot camp changed my life and I could honestly say that I don't think I would have gotten to the Hall of Fame in baseball had it not been for that boot camp when I was 18-years-old.
I'm proud to be a Marine. I never had a bullet shot at me, etc. I never had to go into the jungle during that Vietnam War, but that experience had a tremendous effect. Just being a Marine had a tremendous effect on my entire life and, you know, once a Marine, always a Marine. I'm very proud to be a Marine.
PF: Is it emotional for you to be involved, as you are, in these salutes to veterans?
TS: Yes, absolutely...When I was with the Mets, we used to go to military hospitals. It breaks your heart and it makes you tear. You come in and there's a 22 or 23-year-old young man and there's one leg is gone and you just count your blessings. It tears me up to think about it, too.
Seaver was part of a salute to veterans at Citi Pond at Bryant Park this morning.
How are you honoring our veterans today? Share your story in the comments section below.
