LDS Night at Minute Maid Park

Wednesday, June 29, 2011 - Tonight was our annual Latter-day Saint Friends and Family Night at Minute Maid Park to watch the Houston Astros.  It was co-sponsored by the Houston chapters of the BYU Management Society (of which I'm the current president) and the BYU Alumni Association.  This year, we wanted to try something different.  So I obtained permission from the Astros for us to have a Primary children's choir sing the National Anthem (in LDS lingo, it was a "multi-stake" group...meaning that the children came from about a dozen different congregations in the area).  As a result, approximately 90 Primary children (ages 5-12) from the Katy, Richmond and Sugar Land areas of Houston had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity....but I'm certain that no one enjoyed it as much as I - and their parents - did.

Before the night ever happened, we already started talking about next year's event.  It's going to be bigger and better.  But nothing will ever change how special the first go-round was.  Thanks to everyone who participated in the choir.  And thanks to the more than 500 people who purchased tickets with our group.  See you back at Minute Maid Park in 2012!

Pre-game with my two favorite baseball buddies.

On the big screen!

Waving to the crowd after a job well done!  If you look closely, you can see me and the boys cheering the choir on along the right field warning track near the tunnel entrance (far right of the picture).

Our amazing choir director - Taggert Mayfield. A legend in his own time. He worked his tail off to make this thing happen. And, as with everything he does, he went way, way above and beyond - both in time and with his personal financial resources. Most of those kids and families will never know how he impacted that night or how lucky we were to have him. Thanks again, Tagg!