Sun City dedicates softball field to its military veterans

By Gwyneth J. Saunders CONTRIBUTOR

There are few guarantees in life, but in Sun City Hilton Head some are regimented like a military exercise, primarily because they are military-oriented.

Sometimes Mother Nature decides otherwise, however, and such was the case that impacted a Memorial Day weekend softball tournament that had special connotations for both the Sun City Veterans Association (SCVA) and the Softball Club.

Leaving the field literally to the rains, the planned dedication of the Veterans Memorial Field with a follow-on series of tournaments was held July 8, and the weather could not have been nicer at the time of the ceremony.

SCVA Commander Dave Davis, who initiated the project, said he knew the veterans were visible within the community, especially during events such as Memorial and Veterans Day, and at Flag Day.

“I got to thinking about visibly recognizing the veterans within the community. Out of the 19,000 people who now live in Sun City, 25% of them are veterans. How could we - in a very public way - recognize the veterans past and present, and those who come in the future?” he said. “By having an established monument, it gives them the permanent recognition.”

As both a member of the SCVA and the Softball Club, Davis also knew that a large number of veterans played ball. It seemed like an ideal solution to name the community’s ballfield, akin to Chicago’s Soldier Field and Philadelphia’s Veterans Stadium.

After discussing the idea with the softball club’s President Holly Meckley, the two leaders made a proposal to the community’s board of directors. After the presentation, the board discussed it and immediately moved to approve the project.

Cutting the ceremonial ribbon was Emily Mueller, whose late husband Stephen – as an Army veteran and a dedicated softball player - was the epitome of those being honored.

The Sun City Singers provided musical support as they frequently do for many community events, including opening day ceremonies.

The coordination of the two clubs for this particular event is nothing new.

The SCVA was formed in 1996 and a year later the Sun City Men’s Softball League was chartered. The two clubs have grown and been inseparable ever since, with members of both organizations participating in opening day ceremonies, competing in regular season games, and participating in special occasions such as hosting the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team, supporting the Built to Honor housing program, providing umpires, announcers and the SCVA Color Guard for the Battle of the Badges charity games, and annual Memorial Day tournaments, frequently bringing in teams from neighboring military bases to play Sun City athletes.

The new Veterans Memorial Field sign now stands as a dedication to Sun City’s military veteran residents past, present and future.