More than 50 military officers and their guests gathered at the Vero Beach Yacht Club for the recent Military Officers Association of America Luncheon, where they listened to remarks by Fay Vincent, former Commissioner of Major League Baseball, and joined with Leathernecks in celebrating the 244th birthday of the Marine Corps.
Vero Beach resident Fay Vincent narrated stories about baseball patriots Ted Williams, Warren Spahn, Bob Feller and “Slick” Surratt. Col. Mike Di Scipio presented Vincent with a plaque displaying the symbol of the Marine Corps – the eagle, globe and anchor. While in college, a serious accident prevented Vincent from eventually being commissioned an officer in the Marine Corps.
Vincent, a graduate of Yale Law School, was a business and corporate lawyer, securities regulator, and sports executive. As the Commissioner of Baseball (1989-92) he presided over some of the most important decisions and controversial events in baseball history, including the 1989 World Series earthquake, the owners’ lockout of 1990, George Steinbrenner’s expulsion, the permanent suspension of Steve Howe, and expansion teams in Colorado and Florida.
In keeping with U. S. Marine Corps tradition, Col. Mike Di Scipio used his Mameluke sword to cut and serve the first pieces of birthday cake to Col. Ivar Svenson and SSg. Jordan Krenning, the oldest and youngest Marines at the luncheon.
MOAA (ircmoaa.org) is an organization of former military officers and widowed spouses, that helps protect the rights of service members and supports local community activities.
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