It’s been a while since this event took place, but I found it touching and moving (and had technical difficulty with the videos in between). The minor league baseball team Orange County Flyers, which has ties to Cal State Fullerton where it plays its home games, went out of its way to honor Fullerton alum and baseball player Jon Wilhite.
Jon was the sole survivor of the April 9 automobile accident that took the lives of Los Angeles Angels rookie pitcher Nick Adenhart and two others. Jon suffered what’s called an internal decapitation–his spine was severed below the head.
Amazingly, the staff at UC Irvine Medical Center were able to fuse his spine so he can now walk among the living.
Jon was there this night with his family, his surgeon, the first responders who saved him, the families of the other local victims (except the Adenharts), the Flyers and the opposing Calgary team–and of course, adoring fans.
It turns out that Phil Nevin, Flyers manager and CSU Fullerton alum (and Fullerton native), had spent time visiting the recovering Wilhite and his family in the hospital.
It was a touching ceremony. When, after the National Anthem had been sung, the stadium sang in unison Take Me Out to the Ballpark in honor of the fallen Angels, Wilhite sobbed, and so did I–and many others.
Here Jon (in white shirt with sunglasses on chest) chats with his surgeon before the ceremony:
Here’s the pregame ceremony during which Jon’s father spoke and thanked everyone:
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