The Macon Telegraph
ATLANTA — The crowd at Turner Field cheered Wednesday night as the children of a fallen Macon-Bibb County firefighter walked to the mound.
Lt. Randy Parker’s sons, Andrew, 22, and Chandler, 9, were tapped to toss the ceremonial first pitch during Firefighter Appreciation Day as the Braves took on the Colorado Rockies.
“We were more of a football family,” Andrew Parker said while waiting in the stadium concourse.
So to prepare, he and Chandler tossed the ball a bit Wednesday before leaving for Atlanta.
“I don’t think it’s really hit them until (Wednesday),” said their mother, Sandie Parker.
As the game was about to get underway, a picture of Randy Parker in his firefighter dress uniform flashed on the large screen in center field.
The boys’ 46-year-old father was killed in February when a floor collapsed during a house fire.
As baseball fans paused for a moment of silence for Parker’s sacrifice, his widow gently wiped away tears while she stood in the first row near home plate.
“It’s just humbling that they are doing it in honor of Randy and they thought that much to ask us,” she said.
The announcer bellowed from the speakers: “In honor and recognition of Lt. Parker, here to throw out tonight’s ceremonial first pitch are his two sons.”
They stood about 4 feet apart on the mound.
Chandler was first to wind up and throw, with his big brother right behind him.
“Good job,” their mother said as she high-fived Chandler as he returned to the stands.
She was ushered to home plate to serve as honorary Braves manager just before the start of the game.
Dozens of the lieutenant’s former colleagues from the Macon-Bibb County Fire Department traveled to Atlanta for the game.
During pre-game festivities, about 500 firefighters and family members marched around the field, with the Parkers taking the lead.
“Randy’s family has been through so much since February when this accident occurred, and it’s just awesome that the Braves reached out to us,” Macon-Bibb Asst. Fire Chief Shane Edwards said. “Just for her two boys to be able to throw out that first pitch just means so much to our organization in the fire department and also that family.”
For each ticket sold Wednesday night, $5 was donated to the Georgia Fallen Firefighter Foundation.
Events honoring Lt. Parker give the family something to look forward to.
“Sometimes it’s very raw ‘cause it brings back some of the emotions,” Sandie Parker said. “But at the same time it seems like these events always come at a good time because his birthday is Sept. 12, so we’re getting ready to celebrate that.”
The Braves game was a major highlight for Parker’s older son and will likely be his favorite tribute to his father.
“I really appreciate what the Braves have done for us,” Andrew Parker said.
The night was even more special shared with so many firefighter families.
“Everybody just loving on us, so that’s what’s awesome,” Sandie Parker said. “It has been a little over six months but we haven’t been forgotten by any means.”
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