KEATING HONORS CHRISTINA TAYLOR GREEN ON HOUSE FLOOR IN ADVANCE OF CAPE LEAGUE ALL-STAR GAME
Cape Cod Baseball League Dedicated All-Star Game to Young Victim
 
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSunx9oEWEE&feature=channel_video_title
 
Washington, DC – Tonight, the Cape Cod Baseball League will hold its annual All-Star game at Fenway Park and dedicate the game to the memory of Christina Taylor Green, the youngest victim of the Arizona shootings in January.  Christina's father is a baseball scout and she spent many summers on the Cape watching League games.
 
In addition to dedicating the game to Christina, the League also wanted to present her family with a message from the President, which Rep. Bill Keating worked to obtain.
 
Rep. Keating honored Christina, who wanted to be the first woman professional baseball player, and the League on the House floor yesterday.  As Rep. Keating will be staying in Washington to debate and vote on the debt ceiling, he also filmed a special tribute - that included the note from President Obama - which will be played tonight in advance of the game.
 
The text of Rep. Keating’s floor speech can be found below:
 
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the Cape Cod League’s All-Star Game, which is taking place at Fenway Park on Friday, July 29th. 
 
I rise not just because this organization embodies the best of America’s pastime, but because the League has decided to dedicate this year’s game to the memory of Christina Taylor Green, the youngest victim of the Arizona shootings that took the lives of 6 people and injured 13 others including our colleague, Congresswoman Gabby Giffords.
 
Christina was an avid baseball fan who hoped to one day to become the first female major league baseball player.  Her father, John, is a scout for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the family spent summers on Cape Cod, in part so he could scout players in the Cape Cod Baseball League. 
 
For those who are not familiar with the Cape Cod Baseball League, it’s the nation’s premier amateur league and gives fans like Christina the opportunity to watch future major league players up close. 
 
In Christina’s honor, League players will wear commemorative patches on their shirts and her brother, Dallas, will throw out the first pitch.  Additionally, Christina inspired the League to arrange for a Cape Cod Baseball League baseball to be brought into space by Congresswoman Giffords’ husband, Mark Kelly, and the astronauts on board the final mission of Space Shuttle “Endeavor.”  The “Spaceball” covered 6.5 million miles during this trip.
 
Baseball games are wonderful examples of old-fashioned American fun and I commend the Cape Cod League for their heartfelt tribute.  Sadly, Christina, whose innocent life was lost too early, will only be there with us in spirit.  Yet, that unique American spirit to achieve new heights – the same we saw in her desire to be the first female major league baseball player – will continue to inspire us.
 
 
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