The MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, located at 503 E. 9^th St., will host baseball legend Rick Monday on November 12 for a program honoring veterans and the American flag.  Monday served six years in the United States Marine Corps Reserves while playing Major League Baseball and has been a broadcast announcer for the Los Angeles Dodgers since 1993.  The two-time All-Star made three World Series appearances in his 19 seasons with three MLB teams, including the 1981 World Champion Dodgers.  Monday is best remembered for stopping two would-be protesters from setting an American flag on fire during a game at Dodger Stadium in April 1976 while playing for the Chicago Cubs.  The incident has been voted as one of the top 100 moments in Major League history.  Monday still has the flag and travels around the country relating his experience.

“We are delighted to host Rick Monday, a native of Batesville, for an event honoring our veterans and our flag,” says museum director Stephan McAteer.  “The American flag is a prominent icon in U.S. history, a symbol of strength and a source of pride for over 240 years.” Monday will present a program, “Baseball and the American Flag” at the Children’s Theater of the Arkansas Arts Center, adjacent to the military museum in MacArthur Park, starting at 7 p.m.  The event is free to the public. 

Prior to the program, Rick Monday and Little Rock artist Pat Matthews will be special guests at a fundraising reception from 5 – 6:30 p.m. at the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History.  Tickets for the reception are $125 per person and will include the auction of one of Matthews’ signature flag paintings to raise money for the museum’s educational programming.  For more information on tickets, contact the director at 501-376-4602 or visit the museum website.