POHC Soars at the FerryHawks Game

by Carrie Wesolowski

Photos by: Frank Asencio and Carrie Wesolowski

Video: (c) Frank Asencio

We came by land and by sea…….

Well, by car and by train and by the Staten Island Ferry via New York Harbor to be exact....

Blue skies for as far as the eye could see, a pleasant mild summer day with just a hint of an ocean breeze.

It was a lovely day for a ball game....

“Welcome to Hawk City”—the banner proudly proclaimed at the entrance to the ballpark.

It was Peace of Heart Choir's triumphant return to once again sing the National Anthem for the first time since 3 years ago before the pandemic..

We were a smaller group this time—19 choir members strong.

Some things change—the Staten Island home baseball team is now called the FerryHawks and the ballpark was renamed Staten Island University Hospital/Northwell Health Community Park.

Some things don’t change—the sense of community spirit the team inspires as children and their parents excitedly filed into the stadium for a day of good-natured fun.

Rene and the choir filed into the stadium and our holding area where we waited to make our way onto the field—was pretty much the same as we remembered.

With some new additions too---Peppa Pig passing through and waving to us and baseball players from the FerryHawks in their trademark blue and orange uniforms passing through too with smiles and waves. We even sang "Happy Birthday" to Gail—and before we knew it--it was time to make our way out onto the field as Rene directed us.

And then the announcer introduced us, "Performing for us this afternoon, Peace of Heart Choir.."

And for the next minute and a half, we sang the National Anthem at the Staten Island FerryHawks game.

It was 3 years to get back on that ball field and we rose to the occasion with our spirited rendition of the National Anthem that was heartily appreciated by the crowd and met with enthusiastic applause.

As we exited the field, members of the FerryHawks staff who had made us feel so welcome thanked us and exclaimed how beautiful we sounded.

***Frankie the FerryHawks mascot cheering in the stands.***

*Photo Credit: Carrie Wesolowski*

Many of us stayed on to watch the game. Later, there was a rendition of God Bless America. Frankie the FerryHawks mascot made the rounds posing with spectators and there were invitations to fist pump and dance to the music and the fan cam caught it all. There was even an invitation for kids to run the bases and so the little ones ran the bases and one little girl won..

One of the FerryHawks staff even led a small group of kids in song, singing Take Me Out to the Ball Game.. and the crowd sang along…

There were crackerjacks and we rooted for the home team just like in the song and the home team--the Staten Island FerryHawks won!! It was a winning day for all of us!

In Harmony.

Carrie Wesolowski, Alto 1