In a heartwarming display of recognition and patriotism at the Nashville Sounds' season opener on Tuesday, two of Tennessee's finest National Guardsmen were put in the spotlight. Staff Sgt. Cole Lukens and Spc. Noah Green, the celebrated Non-Commissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year for the Tennessee National Guard, took a step off the battlefield and onto the baseball field for a ceremonial first pitch.
Green, a dual-hatted hero serving both as a combat engineer with the 890th Sapper Company and a Maryville firefighter, delivered the ceremonial first toss with enthusiasm to the Sounds’ mascot, Booster. The crowd erupted in cheers, as Maj. Gen. Warner Ross, Tennessee’s Adjutant General, lauded their exemplary dedication, "We are very proud of these Tennessee Guardsmen," he expressed in a statement obtained by the Tennessee National Guard's official website. "Their hard work and commitment reflect the very best of our organization and they represent everything that is right about our great state."
The heartfelt ceremony wrapped up, but the excitement continued as Lukens and Green remained in the stand, watching the game unfold with their fellow Soldiers and fans. Touching on the night's events, Green said, "It was an honor to throw the first pitch and represent my fellow Guardsmen tonight," in a statement to the Tennessee National Guard's official website, "I am grateful for the opportunity to showcase our organization before the game and for being a part of this amazing event."
Yet, this pitch is not the last hurrah for these National Guard warriors. On April 14, Lukens and Green are set to represent Tennessee in the Region 3 Best Warrior Competition, squaring off against top militiamen from the southeastern United States, including participants from the far-flung territories of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, as per official reports. If victorious, their journey will extend to the national stage in July, where they will compete against peers from all 54 states and territories.
