SECOND BREATH | VETERANS & PURPOSE
Two Veterans. One World Series Night. A Gesture Worth Remembering.
October 2026 | An independent Second Breath editorial feature
When the Milwaukee Brewers reached the 2026 World Series, two men who had served their country decades earlier received a special invitation to see Game 1. Brewers captain Christian Yelich helped make it possible for World War II veterans Sverre Vinje, 102, and Bill Wattleton, 98, to attend the October 23 game in Milwaukee.
The invitation was arranged with the MLB Players Association's Players Trust and VetsRoll, an organization that serves veterans. For two lifelong baseball fans, it was a chance to experience a moment Milwaukee had waited generations to see. Their story is a reminder that gratitude sometimes means something simple and personal: being remembered, included, and given a place in a moment that matters.
Yelich's support for veterans also extends beyond the ballpark. In 2024, he and his family announced a Home Plate charity concert to benefit military veterans and the Milwaukee community, including support for Team Red, White & Blue.
Why we're sharing this
Second Breath Coffee is a veteran-owned business built around the belief that purpose and meaningful connections continue long after one chapter of life closes. Stories like this are worth celebrating because they show what it can look like to recognize those who served—not only on Veterans Day, but throughout the year.
We offer our thanks to veterans and their families, and to the organizations and individuals who create moments of belonging.
Read the original reporting
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporting: WWII veterans attend World Series thanks to Yelich
- Milwaukee Brewers / MLB: 2024 Home Plate charity concert announcement
Editor's note: This is original Second Breath commentary, not a sponsored partnership. Second Breath Coffee is not affiliated with or endorsed by Christian Yelich, the Milwaukee Brewers, Major League Baseball, MLBPA, or VetsRoll. Third-party videos and photographs remain the property of their creators; we have not reproduced their footage here.