The Juneau Police Honor Guard render

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Greg Smith, Juneau’s deputy mayor and a former youth player for 13 years said, “I always thought opening day had to be rainy, but we will take this today…A baseball field is a special place. It’s a place where dreams are made and broken, a place of blood, sweat and tears. A place of joyful wins and heartbreaking losses but baseball and softball are just a part of life but they’re parts of life that teach us the important lessons about life. It’s moving to know that these young ball players will be playing on this field that honors and remembers two JPD officers that gave the ultimate sacrifice to make our community safer and a better place to be…This turf represents some great things about our community. It shows a community that came together to build something special, to help our young people grow, laugh and become better people in parts of our society. It also represents something I think we all should strive for, and that’s building a better place for the generations that come after us.”

a salute during the National Anthem at Saturday’s country wise email marketing list Gastineau Channel Little League Opening Day and field grand reopening and rededication at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau Police Honor Guard render a salute during the National Anthem at Saturday’s Gastineau Channel Little League Opening Day and field grand reopening and rededication at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Acting Juneau Parks and Recreation Director Donna Pierce said, “I can’t think of a more marvelous place to be on this morning, just miraculous, to honor our officers but also to celebrate this incredible field and and the accomplishment of you all.”

Pierce noted working with the JDHS softball and baseball coaches, past athletic director Chad Benz and current AD Julie Herman.

Juneau Police Chief Derek Bos spoke to the sacrifice and heroism of officers Adair and Kennedy.

“Each day our lives are impacted by heroes,” Bos said. “A hero is someone who is noble and compassionate, who champions us to do our best, who picks us up when we fall, who inspires us to go beyond our limits and to set new boundaries. Heroes encourage us to strive for greatness. Heroes push us forward day in and day out. Everyone needs a hero. Coaches, as you teach the game, as you mentor our youth, you define in them sportsmanship, fair play and competitiveness, balanced with compassion. You instill these skills that the players will need and use every day for the rest of their lives. Whether you chose to be or not, you became a hero when you became coach. Players, you have the opportunity to be heroes, too. A hero is not defined by age,