Swamp Fox VP Throws First Pitch to Honor Wounded Airmen & Guardians

What began as my vision to honor the AFA Wounded Airmen & Guardians Program and strengthen unity between military and families in the Team Sumter-Shaw community came full circle, from the starting line of the Patriot’s Wounded Warrior 5K to the pitcher’s mound at Segra Park, home of the Columbia Fireflies, on August 22.

As the founder of Patriot’s Wounded Warrior 5K, I have always believed that service does not end when the uniform comes off; it simply transforms. Through the AFA Swamp Fox Chapter, we have worked to create opportunities to recognize the wounded Total Force warriors, support military families, and remind our communities that the sacrifices made by our service members belong to all of us.

The Patriot’s Wounded Warrior 5K was created with that purpose in mind. What started as an idea to bring people together in support of our wounded warriors has grown into a meaningful community event. Through the generosity of participants, sponsors, volunteers, and community partners, the event has raised funds to support those who have sacrificed so much. In recent years, the race exceeded its fundraising goal, generating more than $16,000 for AFA’s Wounded Airmen & Guardians Program, the Wounded Warrior Project, and Hidden Wounds.

But the true measure of the event is not found in the dollars raised. It is found in lives saved. Every runner, walker, volunteer, sponsor, military family, and community partner becomes part of a larger mission to never forget our wounded warriors and to ensure they know they are not walking or running alone.

That same spirit of service followed me to the baseball field when I was selected and honored by local veteran organizations to throw the first pitch for the Columbia Fireflies at Segra Park wearing my 2026 Patriot’s Wounded Warrior 5K T-shirt. I was very excited yet nervous to take the field on the Columbia Fireflies’ biggest night of 2026, with 7,555 fans in attendance.

Standing on that mound was a once-in-a-lifetime milestone. For me, it represented the intersection of military service, family, community, and the power of strong coalitions, partnerships, and, more importantly, relationships. The baseball field became another platform from which to celebrate those who serve, those who have served, and the communities that stand beside them.

From my first days of military service to retirement as a chief master sergeant after 28 years, I have witnessed firsthand the importance of teamwork. No mission is accomplished alone. The same is true in our communities.

As AFA continues celebrating the legacy of our Air Force and Space Force and the communities that support them, and as we look toward the future, I am reminded that our most powerful impact often comes when we take our mission beyond the walls of our organizations and into the communities we serve.

CMSgt. Cheryl Moye, USAF (Ret.) is the Vice President of the AFA Swamp Fox Chapter in Sumter, S.C.