A year ago today, terrorists attacked the United States, cutting a tremendous wound across the American psyche. The sports world was put on hold as athletes remembered that they were citizens as well. Seven days later, when sports returned to the arena, things had changed. People at stadiums sang \God Bless America"" instead of ""Take Me Out to the Ball Game.""
The fabric of America's happy life had been ripped apart and the sports-obsessed nation turned its eyes to baseball and football to sew that fabric back together. The NFL and MLB gathered up red, white and blue strings and patched together America's ripped national pride with a big flag.
Today, a year later, Major League Baseball has planned several mandatory actions for all teams hosting games. There will be a commemorative field decoration cut into the grass in the outfields and every fan in attendance will receive a t-shirt with the slogan ""We shall never forget"" underneath a special MLB logo.
""The most important thing is that we are not making a promo out of this,"" Milwaukee Brewers personnel director Jon Greenburg said. ""We want the games to serve as a place where people can gather and be together,"" Greenburg said. In addition, stadiums are planning their own pregame ceremonies. Bob Uecker will be emceeing the ceremony in Milwaukee before its game against the St. Louis Cardinals, which will include a tribute to law enforcement officials and firefighters who lost their lives last year. In addition, the son of a Milwaukee firefighter will read a poem about the attacks by the late Jack Buck, a former announcer for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Some football teams, although they do not play Wednesday, are also commemorating the event. Green Bay, Wis., for example, received an American flag used in the rescue attempts at the World Trade Center because of the support it gave New York, and will fly it over Lambeau Field today, according to .
Baseball and football helped bring the nation together last year and this year they are helping the nation remember not to forget.
""Baseball is America's pastime. It is a great diversion, people should just come and forget about their problems,"" Greenburg said.
