Honor guard from Forest Park in 2002.
Throwing the first pitch to open the 2002 season included community leaders from throughout the Village.
Little League teams gather for the opening ceremonies of the 2002 season.

Forest Park Little League opening day in 2002, was reportedly a blustery one, but the show went on according to the May 1, 2002 Forest Park Review. 

With a ceremony, notably inspired by the collapse of the World Trade Center towers only a few months prior, kicked off with first pitches thrown by “Hometown Heroes.”  Local heroes included  Fire Chief Tim Rehor, Park District Commissioners Joe Byrnes and Greg Kolinek, Police Chief Ed Pope and Mayor Anthony Calderone and local bagpiper Vincent Casey playing “It’s A Grand Old Flag.” 

Little League President Dan O’Connor welcomed the season, thanked the park for the new batting cages and reminded the crowd that “Kids are learning more than baseball, they’re learning about life.” 

Click through the photos to see community leaders and little leaguers.