Corrections_Today_Spring_2026_Vol.88_No.1

VIEW FROM THE LINE

be selected for one of the 81 home games. The Sox are smart, not hav ing the contact information for the person responsible easily accessible. It took work, but in the end, it all played out. My contact with the Red Sox front office were very communi cative and hospitable. We got the call a few weeks before, requesting that our team present the ‘Colors’ before the June 11 th Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox game. After getting the green light from our Command staff, the gears were in motion to get the team lineup activated, coordinate transportation and ensure we were squared away with equipment and uniforms. Our eight-member team is for tunate to be diverse among several Corrections disciplines to include Supervisors and officers from all shifts, a Booking Officer and a Case Manager. Activated for this event were: Sergeant Christopher Tucker — American Flag, Sergeant Michael Kistner — New Hampshire State Flag, and Case Manager Elizabeth Reynolds and me, Sergeant Kraig Emery, — Rifles. After gearing up we took the roughly 90-minute drive down I-93 to Boston. With several years of tenure on the team, conversation was filled with the memories of past events and the excitement of what was to come within the next few hours. As we approached Fen way we searched for parking, which translated into a lot where they were trying to squeeze vehicles into every inch of space, essentially like Behind the scenes

stuffing 10 lbs. of potatoes into a 5lb. bag. After some haggling, we convinced the attendant to allow us to park so we had about 18 inches of space to get the gear out of the back. Thanks pal. It has to get bet ter from here. We make our way to the ballpark a few blocks away, check in, and are welcomed by ball park staff. Our Fenway Ambassadors, Tom and Rebecca, brought us onto the third base concourse where we passed by the fan-fan favorite entertainer in stilts, “Big League Brian.” Music is playing and you could feel the excitement in the air. I catch a slight glance of the field and hear the hawkers in the distance selling game programs, along with vendors yelling “Hot Dogs! Peanuts!” The smell of stale beer and grilled sausage combine as I feel the crunch of discarded roasted peanut shells with every step as we walk among hundreds of fans. This is my sanctuary. This is where everything feels right. We are brought through a high security en trance leading us below the stands where there are pallets of field dirt, turf and rolls of tarp. They lead us through the staff breakroom and into the locker rooms, which are painted red, white and blue with Red Sox logos all over. We stow our equipment and uniforms and are graciously invited to roam the Fenway concourse with a promise to return in 20 minutes. Anxious with excitement, we meet the am bassadors within ten minutes and return to the locker rooms to get in uniform and prepare for the event. Once ready, we work together on basic Drill & Ceremony training

underneath the stands. This is the big stage, but as we always say, “Whether event attendance is 30 or 300, we always put on our best per formance.” In this case, it would be over 30,000. Soon we will be doing it for real, but at the moment I feel a calm come over me that I can’t explain. I take the time to reflect on my Honor Guard experiences, and the reality that, at this stage in my career, this may be my last chance to march onto the field I dreamed of running onto as a player. With the sound of the first note of our National Anthem, we march out onto the field, in perfect unison that We are brought underneath the threshold of a garage door leading to the left field “Warning Track” in front of the left field wall, The Green Monster (or “Monstah” if you’re local). Previously, they had us march out to a spot behind 2 nd Base, so this is a new experience. To stand on the same ground as Hall of Famers Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski and Jim Rice? Is this actually happening? We get into formation as we await our cue, shaking off any last minute nerves before coming to attention. → within the team you don’t see, you feel.

Spring 2026 | Corrections Today

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