73rd opening day of Little League in Juneau honors namesakes at new Adair Kennedy Memorial Park

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The sun broke bright and early Saturday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park for the 73rd opening day of Little League in Juneau, and baseball and softball fans of all ages readied themselves for the emotional start of a new season of youth play and a new field that youngsters can dream to play on.

For some, that field is more than a turf diamond where wins and losses are just a game. For some, it is a reminder of the permanence of a sacrifice by Juneau Police Department officers Richard James Adair and Jimmy Earl Kennedy, who died in the line of duty.

“Richard Adair was my father-in-law,” Greg Parker said. “And my wife gave birth to one of our daughters (Brooke) about 12 hours before they were killed. That’s why it’s so emotional. And it was country wise email marketing list a beautiful sunny day, just like this, on April 17th of 1979.”

Gastineau Channel Little League youth players are welcomed onto the field by the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears baseball team during during Saturday’s GCLL Opening Day, and field grand reopening and rededication at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Gastineau Channel Little League youth players are welcomed onto the field by the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears baseball team during during Saturday’s GCLL Opening Day, and field grand reopening and rededication at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

Parker remembers arriving in Juneau and two days later Richard Adair said to meet him at the baseball field.

“I asked why and he said I was going to be one of his coaches,” Parker said. “I asked if I had a choice and he said, ‘no.’ He coached baseball, if I remember correctly, for about 25 years in this town. He loved baseball. The teams were sponsored by the Police Athletic League, 13- to 15-year-olds…The last time we saw him was when he and his wife stopped at the hospital to see his new granddaughter…and I remember later that day when my wife and I, our two-year-old and newborn were leaving the hospital the ambulances were at the hospital but we didn’t know yet, we didn’t hear until we got home…Two or three minutes later, we got a knock at the door and my wife’s brother was there with a minister from his church and told us.”