{"id":181119,"date":"2024-05-20T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-20T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=181119"},"modified":"2024-05-20T22:49:46","modified_gmt":"2024-05-20T22:49:46","slug":"combat-veteran-honored-by-chicago-cubs-during-military-salute","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=181119","title":{"rendered":"Combat veteran honored by Chicago Cubs during military salute"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
\n <\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>

\n 1 \/ 2<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n U.S. Army Reserve Master Sgt. Robert Maresh, G-3 Mobilization cell, 85th U.S. Army Reserve Support Command, waves to a crowd of cheering baseball fans during the Chicago Cubs military salute, May 17, 2024, at Wrigley Field. Maresh completed three combat tours and holds numerous military awards including the Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge.<\/p>\n

(U.S. Army Reserve photo by Anthony L. Taylor)
\n (Photo Credit: Command Sgt. Maj. Anthony L Taylor)<\/span>\n <\/p>\n

<\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n \"Combat
\n <\/a>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n 2 \/ 2<\/span>
\n
\n Show Caption +<\/span>
\n Hide Caption \u2013<\/span>
\n <\/span>
\n
\n
\n Baseball fans joined U.S. Army Reserve Master Sgt. Robert Maresh, right, G-3 mobilization cell, 85th U.S. Army Reserve Support Command, at Wrigley Field before the start of the Chicago Cubs versus Pittsburg Pirates game, May 17, 2024. Maresh was honored by the Chicago Cubs during their military salute. The Soldier, with 28 years of combined service in the active Army and Army Reserve, holds numerous military awards including the Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge.<\/p>\n

(U.S. Army Reserve photo by Staff Sgt. David Lietz)
\n (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. David Lietz)<\/span>\n <\/p>\n

<\/span>
\n VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a>
\n <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

CHICAGO – Baseball fans cheered for Master Sgt. Robert Maresh, G-3 Mobilization Cell, 85th U.S. Army Reserve Support Command, who was honored during the Chicago Cubs\u2019 military salute on their Friday game versus the Pittsburg Pirates, May 17, 2024, at Wrigley Field.<\/p>\n

Maresh served 11 years on active duty and then 17 years with the Army Reserve, where he continues to serve.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been to 19 different countries during my military service. I enlisted at 24 years of age in Lansing, Michigan. I was a tanker and a military police officer,\u201d said Maresh.<\/p>\n

The Iraqi Freedom veteran served on three combat tours and four deployments to Kosovo, along with overseas duty in Bulgaria, Italy, Greece, Germany, and France.<\/p>\n

Following the on-field recognition, Maresh reflected on what it meant to receive the applause of thousands from grateful baseball fans.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think they were cheering for the uniform. I was honored to be here and be recognized, said Maresh.<\/p>\n

I feel the recognition is not only for me, but for all the military people. I\u2019m part of something bigger than me,\u201d said Maresh. \u201cAll of my brothers and sisters in uniform.\u201d<\/p>\n

Baseball fans were moved during the salute as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love to see it. It hits an emotional chord,\u201d said Jeff Tudor of Chicago.<\/p>\n

And Chicago resident Ann Hermes Tudor agreed.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery time I see the military salute it\u2019s very moving,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd I appreciate and am grateful for their service.\u201d<\/p>\n

Maresh continues serving in the U.S. Army Reserve today and shared what he most enjoys about it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI like the structure, uniformity and I love being with the Soldiers,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need the military to defend our country. After 28 years of service, I\u2019ve got a lot out of the military.\u201d<\/p>\n

He additionally had some advice for young people considering military service.<\/p>\n

\u201cFind out what you want in life and then you can choose what branch you would like to join,\u201d Maresh said.<\/p>\n

Maresh holds many military awards including the Bronze Star, Combat Action Badge, nine Army Commendation medals, the silver category for the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge and the German Schutzenschnur Badge for proficiency in rifle and pistol marksmanship.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe one personal award that I cannot wear on my uniform is that I brought all of my Soldiers home after three combat deployments,\u201d said Maresh.<\/p>\n

The father of three daughters and two sons reflected on his time in service while watching the remainder of the game from his seat, near the third base line. He shared that if he had to do it all over again, he would have joined the Army with one change.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would have enlisted at 18 instead of 24,\u201d Maresh said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

1 \/ 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption \u2013 U.S. Army Reserve Master Sgt. Robert Maresh, G-3 Mobilization cell, 85th U.S. Army Reserve Support Command, waves to a crowd of cheering baseball fans during the Chicago Cubs military salute, May 17, 2024, at Wrigley Field. Maresh completed three combat tours and holds numerous military awards […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":181121,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-181119","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/181119","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=181119"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/181119\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":181124,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/181119\/revisions\/181124"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/181121"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=181119"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=181119"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=181119"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}