[slideshow_deploy id=’899′]
BY JOHN SNYDER
OF PASCACK PRESS
TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—Mayor Peter Calamari and the town council have recognized Billy Cook, a self-described baseball fanatic, for his unprecedented and successful efforts supporting United State military personnel through the Billy’s BASEballs nonprofit organization.
In a proclamation read by
Council President Michael DeSena on Oct. 1, the governing body told Cook, 17, “Your work is a constant reminder to those who serve in the military that their service and sacrifice are recognized and appreciated.”
Counclman Michael Ullman noted a serviceman’s letter from Cook’s website—one of several thank-you notes: “This baseball took me back if just for a moment to when I used to play. Baseball meant a lot to me back then so this ball put a smile on my face.”
Ullman told Cook that it was his honor to be part of the township’s expression of thanks.
In 2013, Cook, as a 12-year-old looking for a bar mitzvah project, first considered sending letters to the troops. His mom, Phylisse, suggested he include baseballs with his letters. That led to the notion of sending the balls with supportive messages written on them.
Backed by his parents and brother, Cook has since sent 15,500 baseballs to the troops at home and abroad, even in combat zones.
On his website, he says, “Every one of those baseballs carries a message of love, thanks, hope, and praise.”
The Cooks handle shipping and worked with the Major Stuart Adam Wolfert Institute to determine where the baseballs should be sent.
Cook, who received the 2015 Prudential Spirit of Community Award and placed a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, plans to become an athletic trainer.
The governing body gave Cook a ball he won’t want to part with: A Tiffany’s crystal baseball etched with the Billy’s BASEballs logo.
“That was awesome. Nothing like that has ever happened to me before. It was so nice,” he told Pascack Press just after.
On Oct. 3 he posted from one of his favorite spots on the planet: the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center on the Montclair State University campus, during Yogi Berra Tribute Day.
“We celebrated Yogi by honoring his military service—over 120 baseballs were signed for the troops by visitors to the museum,” he said.
For more information, CLICK billysbaseballs.com.