At 98 years old, Henry “Rudy” St. Laurent is still a big baseball fan. He watches the Washington Nationals whenever they’re on TV, but recently, through Mission Technologies’ Mission Starts at Home program, Rudy got to experience a game at Nationals Park with his family.
Rudy attended the game with his son-in-law, Gary Rogeness, Senior Director of Unmanned Systems Business Development at Mission Technologies, and other members of his family. For the family, the evening offered a chance to enjoy Rudy’s love of baseball together with a few unexpected moments that made the night even more memorable.
“Having the opportunity to take him to a Nats game and see him get so much attention from the folks there at Nats stadium under the program that Mission Technologies has with the box was really special,” Rogeness said.
Nationals staff added a few surprises of their own. Rudy was presented with a Nationals jersey, hat and other gifts, and even got a surprise visit from Screech, the team’s mascot, who stopped by to meet Rudy and pose for a photo with the family.
“He was surprised by the visit by Screech!” Rogeness said. “As you can imagine, he’s a very humble guy so he was a little bit embarrassed by all of the attention, but his daughters were quick to point out that he deserved some special treatment.”
Philisha, a member of the Nationals staff, went above and beyond to make the evening memorable, gathering additional Nationals gear for Rudy and making sure he was taken care of when it was time to leave. With a grandfather who served during World War II, the experience held special meaning for her, too.
“I would want someone to do the same thing for my grandfather,” Philisha said. “I feel so honored that I could make his night special.”
Rudy’s own history of service began nearly eight decades ago. Just out of high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Merchant Marine and served at the end of World War II. Rogeness said Rudy still speaks fondly of his service.
At 98, Rudy remains active, working with a personal trainer twice a week. Rogeness said his father-in-law’s mind remains “sharp as a tack” — especially when the two sit down for a game of cribbage.
“He whips me routinely in cribbage,” Rogeness said.
For Rogeness, one moment from the evening held particular meaning; “I think the moment that meant the most was being able to stand for the National Anthem and honor the Coast Guard men and women that were there for the game,” he said.
Through Mission Starts at Home, experiences like this can become more than a night away from work. For Rudy and his family, it was a chance to spend an evening together at the ballpark, celebrate his love of baseball and recognize a lifetime of service.
If you’ve had a memorable experience at a venue offered through Mission Starts at Home, share your story.
