Boeing and the Seattle Mariners honor military service members and veterans at Salute to Armed Forces Night

“Being on the field brought home my family’s service — my uncle is missing in Vietnam and my grandfather served in World War II,” said Charlene Lauderdale, aerospace system safety engineer, E‑7 program and U.S. Air Force veteran. “Walking out with the flag, seeing the banners and plaques, I felt proud to be part of this team of veterans. It was powerful to have that moment and to know I played a small part in honoring others.”

Lauderdale carried the flag during Salute to Armed Forces Night presented by Boeing on May 16 at T‑Mobile Park. BVET members, Boeing teammates and community partners joined on‑field activations and community service to honor veterans during Military Appreciation Month.

Why it mattered: The evening gave veterans public recognition, reinforced Boeing’s commitment to the military community and created moments for teammates to connect around shared service.

Driving the news:

• Game highlights: More than 50 members of the Puget Sound chapter of the Boeing Veteran Engagement Team presented the large flag during the national anthem while 20 additional Boeing teammates served as a dugout crew, cheering players and high‑fiving as they took the field.
• First pitch: Tri L Nguyen, BCA Business Operations, BVET member and USO volunteer, threw out the first pitch. “This opportunity really showed me the effort Boeing makes to hire and support the veteran community,” he said. “It was a great honor to be selected. I’ve volunteered at Boeing events for more than 20 years and recently with the United Service Organizations (USO) at Sea‑Tac, so getting to serve military members on the field felt especially meaningful.”
• Boeing partners: Community organizations such as the United Service Organizations joined the event to provide additional recognition and resources for service members and their families. “We are honored to stand alongside Boeing and the Mariners to recognize the service and sacrifice of military members and their families; events like this amplify community support, connect service members with resources and remind veterans that their skills and leadership are valued in civilian life,” said Don Leingang, Area Director for USO Northwest.