Memorial Day Videos: 'Baseball Hero Saves the Flag' and 'America the Beautiful'

Folks, last year at this time, I posted a number of commemorative videos to help you celebrate Memorial Day.

“The True Meaning of Memorial Day” can be seen here, and Ray Charles marvelously singing “America the Beautiful” here.

By far, the most popular was “Another Memorial Day Video: Baseball Hero Saves the American Flag.”

In it, the uplifting story of Chicago Cubs outfielder Rick Monday was told:

[T]hirty years ago this past April, as America was in the process of celebrating its bicentennial, Chicago Cubs centerfielder Rick Monday, a former Marine Corps Reservist, made one of the greatest plays in baseball history…but it didn’t involve a ball, a bat, or a glove.

As protestors were trying to set fire to an American flag in the centerfield of Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles, Monday darted by, grabbed Old Glory, and saved her from a disturbing fate in front of a huge Chavez Ravine crowd.

According to Inside Baseball: “This moment and the symbol it represented – freedom, history and those who have lost their lives in battle to save Old Glory – had countless Americans talking; from politicians in Washington, D.C. and throughout the country to military veterans to everyday people. It was ranked as one of the top 100 classic moments in baseball history by the National Baseball Hall of Fame committee and third on Sporting News’ list as the most ‘unusual’ moment to occur on a major league baseball field.”

This marvelous video (hat tip to reader Airforce_5_0) is a four-minute tribute to the event, including video footage, and interviews with Monday as well as then Dodger third-base coach Tommy Lasorda. Enjoy.

Update: A full transcript of this video along with another picture of the event follow courtesy of MLB.

Please enjoy your Memorial Day.