Youth baseball team from Idaho honors SSG Ryan Knauss and others killed in Kabul

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – It’s been multiple 12 months since 13 U.S. service members died in Afghanistan throughout a bombing on the Kabul airport, however folks from all around the nation are paying their respects nonetheless to at the present time.

Military Employees Sergeant Ryan Knauss, a Gibbs Excessive College graduate, was among the many 13 killed that day in August of 2021.

Greater than 1,700 miles away in Meridian, Idaho exterior of Boise, there’s a youth baseball workforce that’s determined to pay tribute to these 13 women and men that made the last word sacrifice. Gametime Academy coach CJ Burgess determined to have every of their 13 gamers put on a jersey with the title of a type of 13 on the again of it when the workforce travels to play in a match in Las Vegas this weekend.

“The most important factor for me is for them to realize the data of what different folks do within the background that they don’t see or hear each day that affords them the chance to get to do what they do,” mentioned Burgess.

Evan McDaniel was the participant chosen to put on the jersey with the title “Ryan Knauss” stitched on the again of it.

Coach Burgess, an Air Drive veteran with 23 years of energetic service, has been wanting to do that for years however felt it was the precise time now as this 12 and below workforce enters center college with the hopes of those tales resonating extra with them. Together with carrying a jersey, Burgess has additionally assigned every participant homework.

“They every must provide you with a two or three minute presentation on who they’re representing, the place they’re from, what they did,” mentioned Burgess.

When McDaniel began researching, he instantly felt the gravity of what his workforce was doing.

“I simply felt like I used to be representing the ways in which he helped save our nation and I felt like, it simply felt actually good,” mentioned McDaniel as he described the sensation of placing the jersey on.

Because the 11-year-old researched extra, his household got here throughout WVLT articles surrounding Knauss and reached out to see if we might share their story with Ryan’s household.

“We proceed to be blessed by so many from so distant. Ryan by no means was capable of go to Idaho or Las Vegas, so we’re honored that Evan will carry his title there. An enormous thanks to this workforce from Meridian, Idaho for instructing that freedom must be cherished and treasured and at instances comes at an enormous price. Good luck within the match and God Bless,” mentioned Ryan’s dad Greg Knauss.

Copyright 2022 WVLT. All rights reserved.