Jonathan Lucroy accepts invitation to State of the Union
A face familiar to baseball fans could appear on screen while President Barrack Obama delivers the annual State of Union Address next Tuesday.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal, Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy has accepted the invitation of Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson and will be in attendance. It’s not immediately clear if Lucroy will be acknowledged during the President’s speech, but it is clear that Senator Johnson wanted to personally recognize Milwaukee’s backstop for his contributions and the awareness he’s brought to numerous charities over the years, and especially for his support of U.S. troops.
Here’s an excerpt of Senator Johnson’s statement released on Wednesday.
“Mr. Lucroy, the all-star catcher for the Milwaukee Brewers, has become a hero to Wisconsin sports fans with his excellent performance on the field. But to me, he is an even bigger hero off the field. He is using his baseball fame to highlight some great Wisconsin charities.”
The Journal Sentinal provided a complete rundown of Lucroy’s charitable efforts, including his support for Fisher House Wisconsin, which aims to provide a “home away from home” for the families of veterans receiving care at the Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee. Lucroy frequently invites wounded heroes to Brewers games to meet with them, and makes a point to visit veterans hospitals in Wisconsin, in St. Louis, in Washington and while on the road.
Additionally, Lucroy regularly visits patients at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, has served as a spokesman for the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Muscle Walk, and works closely with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and with the Miracle League of Milwaukee, which provides opportunities for all children to play organized baseball.
Amazingly, that only partially covers the contributions Lucroy has made and the efforts he continues to make to help make life a little more enjoyable for others.
“I am honored that Senator Johnson has asked me to be his guest at the State of the Union.” Lucroy said in a statement on Wednesday. “We both share a passion for veterans and serving those who serve us, and I am looking forward to the privilege of being in our nation’s Capital for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
If anyone deserves recognition, it’s Lucroy. We offer our congratulations for this tremendous honor, as does our appreciation for his tireless efforts.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
