Rain Date: Peabody West Little League Opening Day To Honor Local Veteran

Update: Due to weather conditions, opening day was rescheduled to May 20.

PEABODY, MA – Peabody West Little League's Opening Day – now on May 20 – will honor Lt. Robert Leslie Ross with three new flags for all three of the fields at Lt. Ross Park.

According to a press release from the league, Ross previously lived on Broad Street in West Peabody, and graduated from Peabody High School in 1964. He entered the Army in 1966, according to a 1968 article of the Peabody Times.

Ross was killed in action when he was 22 in Darlac Province, Vietnam, in 1968, according to the league. He was serving as a forward observer with the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. Ross was awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Citation. Lt. Ross is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, just down the street from the baseball fields named in his honor. Lt. Ross Memorial Park, the home of PWLL was dedicated on May 4, 1969.

"PWLL is both humble and proud to play on baseball fields dedicated to a true American Hero," said the statement.

The league will have a flag raising ceremony for the third new flag on May 20, at 5 p.m. The first two flags were flown at military installations that have a connection to Ross.

Image via PWLL