Boeing Veteran Engagement Team (BVET) employees present the flag during the National Anthem at the Mariners’ Salute to Armed Forces Night. (Jim Anderson photo)
On April 12, the Seattle Mariners hosted Salute to Armed Forces Night, presented by Boeing, a celebration honoring military veterans and their unwavering spirit of service.
Among the honored guests was Boeing Phantom Works Systems Engineering Support Analyst, Jesse Perales, who is also a United States Navy veteran.
Jesse Perales and his son Isaias happily pose at home plate after the first pitch. (Ben Van Houten photo)
Perales was selected to throw out the first pitch with his son as the catcher, a moment that filled him with emotion. “This opportunity really showed me the effort Boeing makes to hire and support the veteran community,” Perales shared. “Before starting at Boeing, I feared it would feel like an unfamiliar place to work after being in the military for so many years, but it in fact has felt familiar due to how many veterans the company employs.”
Perales’ journey to Boeing was supported by FourBlock, a Boeing non-profit partner dedicated to helping returning service members and military spouses transition to meaningful civilian careers. Now, Perales volunteers with FourBlock, giving back to the community that helped him find his footing in the civilian workforce.
The night was a collective tribute to the military community, including several other veterans in the evening’s festivities.
Briere (second from the right) presents the flag on the field during the National Anthem alongside fellow BVET teammates. (Jim Anderson photo)
During the national anthem, members of the Puget Sound Chapter of the Boeing Veteran Engagement Team (BVET) presented the flag on the field. Among them was Lynn Briere, a Financial Analyst for Composites Fabrication and a 20-year veteran of the United States Coast Guard (USCG).
“After my USCG tenure, I was looking for a job where I could be a part of a team that shared similar camaraderie like I experienced in the military,” Briere said. “After 23 years of working at Boeing, I’m grateful to say I've experienced that camaraderie at Boeing, especially after my time on the field presenting our country’s flag alongside my colleagues.”
The game’s atmosphere was electric, starting with the first 15,000 fans receiving co-branded camouflage jerseys to commemorate the special night.
Boeing Veteran Engagement Team (BVET) employees present the flag during the National Anthem at the Mariners’ Salute to Armed Forces Night. (Roland Morgan photo)
For Perales, the experience was deeply meaningful. “My 20 years in the military centered around ensuring others were feeling supported in their work. But the chance to throw out the first pitch at a major league baseball game, that was a special feeling, because it was for me.”
The Mariners Salute to Armed Forces Night was a powerful reminder of the bonds forged in service and the ongoing support that Boeing provides its veteran employees. It was a night of celebration and a salute to those who have served.
Learn more about FourBlock here.