Nationals and USO Launch Me & A Friend on July 4

Press Release:

The Washington Nationals and the USO of Metropolitan Washington have teamed up to give military kids the opportunity to enjoy a baseball game with their friends through the “Me and a Friend” program, which formally kicks off on July 4 when the Nationals host the New York Mets in Washington, D.C., at 1:35 p.m. and will continue every Sunday throughout the rest of the season.

The “Me and a Friend" program was designed by the USO in cooperation with various partner organizations and in consultation with the Department of Defense to recognize the unique challenges and sacrifices made by the children of military service members, especially those who have a parent who is deployed.

“The Nationals are honored to be the first organization to partner with the USO in support of our troops and their families through the ‘Me and a Friend’ program,” said Nationals President Stan Kasten. “This program continues the Nationals tradition of recognizing members of the military and their families during our games, and we appreciate the opportunity to express our gratitude to those who sacrifice so much for this country.”

Through the program, military children will receive complimentary tickets for themselves and a friend to enjoy a Nationals game, thereby allowing them to connect with their peers who may not be members of military families. The Nationals are the first organization to formally activate this initiative through its local USO, the USO of Metropolitan Washington.

“The USO is reaching out to professional sports teams across the United States and partnering with local military organizations to support military kids across the country through this program,” said Sloan Gibson, USO president and CEO. “We are grateful to the Washington Nationals for joining the USO of Metropolitan Washington to kick off this exciting new initiative.”

The Washington Nationals and USO are working together with various military organizations to help in the distribution of these tickets. Tickets for the July 4 game are available on a first-come, first-served basis through USO-Metro’s TicketLine program and must be picked up at the USO office at 228 McNair Road Bldg 405 Fort Myer, VA 22211. Military families can also visit www.usometro.org/tickets to check on availability.