The professional baseball team Doosan Bears will hold an event to express gratitude and support to firefighters who dedicate themselves to ensuring the safety of citizens on the front lines of disaster sites.
Doosan Bears announced, "On the 24th, at Jamsil Baseball Stadium, a regular season home game against SSG Landers will be held, and 'Firefighter Family Day with Doosan Bears' will be conducted for firefighters and their families."
The event on that day will invite a total of 1,119 people, including currently serving firefighters and their families, as well as the families of firefighters who died while protecting disaster sites, to express gratitude for their dedication and sacrifice for citizen safety. This was arranged in collaboration between Doosan Bears and the Korea Fire Agency.
A firefighter's pitch who endured strong winds during the Yeongnam forest fire to contain its spread
According to Doosan, the invitation of firefighter families to Jamsil Baseball Stadium was proposed by Park Jeong-won, the chairman of Doosan Group, who has shown special interest in the efforts of firefighters and has supported the group-level 'Firefighter Family Care' initiative.
The first pitch for the game on that day will be thrown by Firefighter Son Yong-won, a member of the North Gyeongsang Province 119 Forest Fire Response Team. Firefighter Son was among those who worked hard to suppress the forest fire during the Yeongnam forest fire, which recorded the largest scale of forest fires in March, enduring strong winds that made it difficult to stand. In 2021, Firefighter Son also discovered a fire at a shopping center in Bonghwa County, North Gyeongsang Province, on his day off, rescued two elderly persons, and prevented the spread of the flames, earning media coverage. Firefighter Son's father is also a current firefighter who conducted rescue activities during the Daegu subway fire in 2003.
Firefighter honor guard, firefighting band performance, fire safety experience...various events
Additionally, during the event, a firefighting band composed of currently serving firefighters will perform the national anthem, and the firefighting honor guard will stand at attention holding the national flag. A moment of silence will also be held to honor fallen firefighters and those who defended the country. A mobile fire safety experience vehicle will be displayed in front of the central ticket office, allowing baseball stadium visitors to experience a firefighting scene firsthand. Various events will be conducted to mark the significance of the day for firefighter families and baseball fans.
The 'Firefighter Family Care' program initiated by Doosan Group in 2017 at the direction of Chairman Park Jeong-won is a support project for the families of fallen firefighters. It provides psychological counseling and treatment to ensure emotional stability and healthy social living for selected families. Among the eligible families, child care expenses are provided until graduation from elementary school for preschool children.
Moreover, Doosan Group has continuously supported firefighters by creating 'Recovery Buses for Disaster Relief Workers' to provide rest areas for firefighters and relief workers at disaster sites and donating them to the Korean Red Cross last year.
A representative of Doosan Bears noted, "As June is the month of patriotism and honor, we feel it is even more meaningful to express our gratitude to firefighters who dedicate themselves on the front lines of disaster sites with baseball fans." They added, "We will continue to organize various programs that can spread positive influence throughout society together with our parent company, Doosan Group."
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