Mets remember NYC victims, volunteers

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Playing in the dirt right outside the New York Mets' dugout, Brittney and Caitlyn Roy acted as if they didn't have a care in the world.

They were completely oblivious to Mo Vaughn, Mike Piazza and Rey Ordonez walking to the batting rack behind them before Friday's game.

The little girls were too busy counting pebbles, burying a new baseball in a pile of gravel and writing their names in the ground.

"Look mommy, I put hearts around mine," 7-year-old Brittney proudly said.

Stacey Roy smiled at her daughter, savoring the sweet moment on a sunny afternoon. She only wished her husband, a police sergeant killed at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, could have seen it, too.

"A lot of their innocence was taken away on that day," she said.

"Things like this really help. They provide a distraction, and the kids need that."

Once again wearing the "NYPD" and "FDNY" hats that became part of their uniforms late last season, the Mets paid tribute to victims of the terrorist attacks before their spring training home opener.

Four families affected by the tragedies were guests of the Mets at the game against St. Louis, and eight children representing the police, fire and civilian workers threw out ceremonial first balls.

"It's important that we remember what happened," Mets pitcher John Franco said. "It's never-ending. We just want to keep doing whatever we can."

"It's really hard when you think about the kids, the ones that lost parents," he said.

Return to familiar look

The Mets will return to wearing their "NY" hats today for the rest of the exhibition season. Their jerseys do not have "9-11-01" stitches into the sleeves anymore, although the Mets hope to make exceptions at some point this year, maybe on July 4 and certainly on Sept. 11.

"We have to work with the commissioner's office. There are some licensing issues involved," general manager Steve Phillips said.

Said Franco: "I'm sure no one is going to object if we want to do something."

Around the majors, there will be patriotic displays throughout the season to remember Sept. 11, baseball spokesman Pat Courtney said. Specific tributes and events will be announced later.

The singing of "God Bless America," which became a staple at all major league ballparks after the attacks, likely will not be the rule during the regular season. At most places this spring, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" has returned.

Since the attacks, the Mets have donated money, invited victims' families to Christmas parties and done whatever they could to make them feel welcome.