For years, baseball has been referred to as America’s pastime. But often we forget the brave men and women that have allowed us the freedom to enjoy the greatest sport ever created. Here in Falmouth, and the entire Cape at that, community is at the forefront of everything we do. Without the Falmouth community and their support, the Commodores wouldn’t be near what they are today. However, one member of our community has answered a call that far surpasses the role of any player, volunteer, or board member that the ‘Dores have to offer. David Branga served our nation for six years as a member of the United States Air Force. He spent time stationed in the Netherlands, Alaska, New York, and New Hampshire.

During Friday’s victory over the Orleans Firebirds, Branga and his family were honored by the Commodores in the middle of the fourth inning. President Bob Curtis presented the Branga family with a signed Commodores bat. For the former Sergeant, the role that Falmouth has come to play in his life cannot be overstated. He stressed the need of community for soldiers that have either just finished or will shortly be finished with their military career, saying, “It’s a great opportunity for young vets to come to a community like Falmouth and get involved to make a difference like when you were in the service.”

For Branga, his involvement has come by way of him being named commander of the Falmouth AMVETS post #70. For those that don’t know, AMVETS, or American Veterans is a congressionally chartered veterans service dedicated to serving all who have served in our nations military.

Now, while Branga didn’t have AMVETS during his time as a soldier, what he did have, was baseball. Baseball has long been considered to have gone hand-in-hand with our military, most notably during WWII, when several larger-than-life athletes left their role as American superstars to protect our great nation. Some names include Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, and Warren Spahn. But what about those that did it backwards? Those that used baseball to take your mind off the war, instead of putting it down to go and join it? Branga says that baseball’s always been that thing you fall back on when you’re not home.” More specifically, he talked about his time in Alaska when he served 13 months in a remote duty station with “next to nothing.” So whenever they were able to watch a game, or even just receive news on the sport, Branga says it “felt good to know it was there for us.”

I know it cannot be overstated enough, that while guys like Aaron Judge, Mike Trout, and Shoei Ohtani are the superstars we revere as ‘heroes,’ to find the real heroes is to find men and women throughout this nation like Seargent David Branga.