BENTON HARBOR – Lest We Forget and Congressman Fred Upton will join Gateway in honoring Richard Plangger Sr. with a color guard and flag presentation Saturday, July 25 at 2 p.m. during The 12th annual Gateway Miracle Softball Marathon at Plangger’s Field.

The presentation will feature a few words from Lest We Forget President, Don Alsbro and a short charge from Congressman Fred Upton who will then present a flag from the U.S. Capitol Building to Richard Plannger.

Plangger served in the first wave invasion of D-Day and also for a brief time as Eisenhower’s personal driver during WWII. He and his family have donated use of Plangger’s Field to The Gateway Miracle Softball Marathon for 12 consecutive years.

The Gateway Miracle Softball Marathon, held July 24-25 at Plangger’s Field in Benton Harbor, is a family friendly event that focuses on raising money and awareness for the vital work that Gateway does in our community.

This year’s event will feature a free midway sponsored by Brookview School with games, inflatable jumpers, sno-cones and crafts for children, provided by The Krasl Art Center, who will be helping kids make their own baseball cards.

There will be a beer tent for the adults, Larks Bar-B-Que, a silent auction featuring a foursome of golf at Lost Dunes with Matt Mantei and everyone who enters will receive a free raffle ticket.

Raffle prizes currently include gift cards from Meijer, Curious Kids Museum passes, gift certificates to Broad Street Bagel, Moxie’s Boutique, Silver Beach Pizza, Grand Mere Inn, detailing from Sparkle Car Wash, a $100 gift certificate to Four Winds restaurant and many more. Current event sponsors include AEP, Whirlpool, Martin’s, Andrews University and JES Vending.

Participating teams will be able to bribe umpires, wear costumes during play, force their opposing teams to hit with hockey sticks and have their friends in the stands buy back runs to help them win the game. All monies and donations taken will go to Gateway.

To see auction items and a schedule of games visit www.gatewayvro.com.