Support Our Troops Day was held at the Sayville High School Baseball Field (otherwise known as "The Swamp") to honor those men and women who have served, as well as those who are serving in our armed forces.

The pre-game event, organized by Varsity Baseball Coach Ryan Cox, was inspired by the patriotism of six of his former baseball players who, upon graduating Sayville High School, joined the military.  The High School community was asked to demonstrate their awareness and support by donning camouflage colors and joining ranks at the baseball field for a ceremony.

While the Anchor club sold refreshments and the Baseball Booster Club sold Camouflage T-shirts (proceeds went to Support our Troops Overseas), spectators gathered in anticipation. Wearing camouflage T-shirts, Superintendent Dr. Schartner and High School Principal Ron Hoffer were very much in vogue. Principals Dr. John Stimmel, Rose Castello, and BOE trustee John Verdone mingled with the sizeable crowd that turned out for the event,

Everyone stood in respectful silence when the Army Color Guard, comprised of Michael Alcabes, Andrew Henning, Richard Erdmann, Marc Gilbert, Ron Bergmann, Joan Furey, and George McEwen marched to centerfield. Local Sayville VFW members as well as active and former military personnel lined up between third and home plate and stood at attention, while radio station and event host My Country 96.1 WJVC  played the National Anthem.

Among those being honored on the field were Sayville High School graduate and current Social Studies teacher Captain Mike Huggins (who has served three tours of duty in Afghanistan), retired teacher and yearbook adviser General Dennis Fagan, and Coach Cox’s father, John, a local contractor and past commander of the VFW in Sayville, who has donated time and materials to build the baseball dug outs at “the Swamp.” After the brief ceremony concluded, Caption Huggins threw the first pitch.

Play ball! The Sayville Golden Flashes bested the East Hampton Bonackers with a final score of 8 to 7. What a game!

On the same day that the Sayville Varsity Baseball Team held Support Our Troops Day, the Lincoln Avenue student body joined efforts and honored our Armed Forces. Students and teachers wore camouflage or red, white and blue that day and donated $1 for each lap taken during either lunch/recess or physical education class to honor our troops. Organized by Mrs. Whitehurst’s 5th graders, the fundraising totaled $150. Donations were being sent to local Veteran’s organizations.