Las Vegas Ballpark turned Friday night into a tribute to service and community, hosting Faith & Family Night with a “Never Forget” 9/11 remembrance woven alongside a celebration of Henderson's Paseo Verde Little League national championship team. A police officer and a firefighter each threw out a first pitch before the game, and fireworks capped the night alongside a 9/11 tribute video shown after the final out.
The event, held in partnership with JustServe, brought together people of different faiths, nonprofit organizations, civic leaders, players and their families, according to FOX5 Vegas. JustServe itself is a free volunteer-matching platform active in 17 countries and territories that was created and funded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and it draws advisory input from secular groups including the American Red Cross and Salvation Army, per The Hancock News.
A Ballpark Full of Ways to Give Back
Concourse booths let fans connect with nonprofit organizations throughout the night, while attendees could also write letters to service members as part of the evening's community-service theme, the station's report noted. Clark County brought out a fire truck for display, and the Las Vegas Aviators received a service award during the festivities. Fans could also collect autographs and trading cards and meet former MLB players who attended the event.
The choirs from Cornerstone Christian Academy and Faith Lutheran Middle School both performed during Faith & Family Night, adding a musical backdrop to an evening that mixed baseball tradition with civic remembrance. Those performances fit into a night explicitly built to honor those who have served the country, framing the 9/11 tribute alongside the broader spirit of community service that defines the date.
Why September 11 Doubles as a Day of Service
The pairing of remembrance with volunteerism traces back to federal law: September 11 was designated a National Day of Service and Remembrance under the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, signed in April 2009, according to GovInfo. That designation provides a framework for community-service efforts on the anniversary. That framework is part of why ballparks and community venues around the country lean into volunteer drives on the anniversary rather than treating it purely as a solemn occasion.
This is not the first time JustServe and the Aviators have joined forces for this kind of night. The two partnered on a similar Faith & Family Night at Las Vegas Ballpark in September 2024, which also gathered local families of multiple faiths for a cereal drive supporting area food pantries, according to the Church of Jesus Christ in Las Vegas. This year's cereal donations again benefit pantries run by the Salvation Army Southern Nevada and Jewish Family Service Agency, with fans who brought a box of cereal receiving a $5 food and beverage credit.
Henderson's Little League Champions Take a Bow
Woven into the night's tributes was recognition for the Paseo Verde Little League national championship team, whose run captured Southern Nevada's attention late this summer. The Henderson-based team won the 2026 Little League World Series U.S. championship on August 29 with a 12-2 win over Ohio, before finishing as world runner-up to Curaçao the next day, according to the Las Vegas Sun. The run made Nevada the first state since Georgia's 2006-2007 teams to reach back-to-back Little League World Series finals, following Summerlin South's trip the previous year.
Henderson is planning its own celebration beyond the ballpark recognition. The city has scheduled a free public community event for September 19 at the Lee's Family Forum Tiltyard to formally honor the Paseo Verde players and coaching staff for their national title run, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. The event gives the champions a second civic stage beyond the diamond where they made their name.
A Stadium Built for Big Moments
Friday's crowd filled a venue that has become something of a community gathering spot since it opened in Downtown Summerlin in April 2019. The stadium now serves as the Aviators' home and anchors a baseball club with deep Southern Nevada roots.
The ballpark's civic role has only grown this year. Major League Baseball scheduled the Athletics to host six regular-season games there in June 2026 against the Milwaukee Brewers and Colorado Rockies as part of the franchise's transition to Las Vegas, a milestone Hoodline previously reported while the Athletics continue playing temporary home games in Sacramento until their new Las Vegas stadium is complete. The venue also hosts civic events, adding to its role in Southern Nevada.
