Schilling Surprises Him With First-Pitch Honors

BOSTON—Sean Bannon, 22, had two requests when he found out he would be receiving the Purple Heart. The Winthrop resident wanted fellow Purple Heart recipient Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., to present the award. And the rabid Red Sox fan wanted the ceremony at none other than Fenway Park.

VIDEO: Soldier Receives Purple Heart At Fenway

On Patriots’ Day, Pfc. Sean Bannon got his wish. He also got an unexpected surprise.

“I had no idea I was actually throwing out the first pitch,” Bannon said. “Curt Schilling surprised me with that when we got out there on the mound.”

The crowd at Fenway Park was on its feet giving Bannon a thunderous standing ovation.

“I was fighting back the tears just to know that everybody out there supports us the way they do,” Bannon said. “They may not agree with the war, but they still support us. It’s nice.”

In February Bannon’s legs were injured by an improvised explosive device in Iraq. He spent a month at Walter Reed Military Hospital in Washington, D.C., before returning home. His therapy continues at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston.

“My rehab is coming along good,” Bannon said. “I’m starting to regain most of the mobility in both my knees so the outlook is looking good.”

Bannon’s extended family, including his mother and grandparents, proudly watched the ceremony at Fenway Park.

“It’s a dream come true for Sean,” said his mother Maureen McGovern. “He’s very proud to have served in the Army. He’s very proud to be an American and he’s a huge Red Sox fan.”

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