On Monday, May 31, 2016, Helping Hands for Freedom and Route for the Brave was honored to celebrate Memorial Day by fulfilling a Dream Chaser. The Hotchkin gold star family was honored at Wrigely field, where Tristan was chosen to throw out the first pitch and the family received personalized jerseys.
The following announcement was made at the game:
Ladies and gentlemen please turn your attention to the field. We have the founder of Helping Hands for Freedom, Staff Sergeant Patrick Shannon. He is escorting Illinois' own gold star family, the Hotchkin's.Patrick is a two-time Purple Heart marine that honors military gold star families with a program called Dream Chaser.Private First Class Gunnar Hotchkin was killed in action on June 16, 2010. On the field is his mother, Chris; his wife, Erin, and his three children, Taylor, Ethan & Tristan.Helping Hands for Freedom is walking across America 3100 miles in honor of our gold star fallen families & has just entered into Illinois.The Chicago Cubs is proud to honor the true meaning of Memorial Day by honoring our fallen military heroes. Please welcome to the mound Tristan, who will throw out the first pitch in honor of his fallen military hero father, private first class Gunnar Hotchkin.
Learn more about our Dream Chaser program here.