NEW YORK — Four children and grandchildren of FDNY and NYPD heroes took to the mound at Citi Field, throwing out the first pitch ahead of the Mets game in a tribute organized by the charity Answer The Call, the New York Post reported.
Hannah Cristiano, 7; Charli Scalf, 11; and siblings Jackson, 7, and Stella Abear, 5, participated in the ceremonial moment, honoring the legacies of their relatives who died in service. The event was part of Answer The Call’s 40th anniversary.
“It was so exciting to throw out that ball. I really couldn’t sleep last night, I was so excited,” Jackson Abear told the Post. Abear proudly declared that he needed no practice to “throw it perfectly to my guy.”
Catherine Abear, who lost her husband, NYPD Detective Raymond Abear, five years ago after he contracted COVID-19 while visiting crime victims in hospitals during the pandemic, said watching her children participate was bittersweet.
“It’s bittersweet. It was really emotional and cool at the same time — Ray and I were both big Mets fans, so it’s quite cool to see them on the field. I’m raising them Mets fans!” Catherine Abear said.
Hannah Cristiano wore a Mets dress and matching bows in tribute to her grandfather, FDNY firefighter Tommy Farino, one of the 343 firefighters killed on 9/11.
The event was made possible by Answer The Call, officially known as the New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund. Founded in 1985 by Mets legend Rusty Staub, the organization has since provided more than $180 million in direct support to over 1,000 families of fallen first responders. This year, the charity distributed over $5.5 million to more than 500 families.
The organization provides each family with an immediate $50,000 payment within 24 hours of a line-of-duty death, followed by an annual stipend of $11,000.
