On March 27, 2017 at 5 p.m, the public was invited to the unveiling of the Chris Moon Memorial Statue at University of Arizona’s Cherry Field.  Chris Moon was a pitcher who threw more than 90 mph and a center fielder who could throw out a base runner with precision. He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the late rounds of the 2007 MLB First-Year Player Draft, but instead accepted a partial scholarship to his dream school, the University of Arizona. He went on to play baseball at the University of Arizona but wanted to retract his scholarship and fulfill his dream of serving our country in the U.S. Armed Forces. He walked away from a sports scholarship in 2008 to enlist in the Army.  After three tours overseas, he died in 2010 at the age of 20 while deployed in Afghanistan when he stepped on a landmine.

According to Arizona Daily Independence, the memorial is a life-size statue that shows Chris Moon as a baseball player and as a soldier. It was fully funded by donations and was approved by the Governing Board last year. It is intended to honor all of Tucson High School’s graduates who have died in the line of duty.

Longtime Tucson High baseball coach, Oscar Romero told Tucson.com, “What he did for our country, what he did for us at Tucson High, exemplifies the kind of individual he was. He was such a great teammate, such a fun kid to be around and coach. I love him to death and I’ll never forget him.”

Marsha Moon, Moon’s mother told Kgun9 news, “Always remember, our military men and women who have made great sacrifices for our freedoms.” Numerous speakers remembered Moon as a friend, family member, and teammate. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and many other honors.