By Charlie Laughtland
BDA blog editor

Some of the Oakland A’s home-game caps BDA produced for a gate giveaway made the trip from the Bay Area all the way to Camp Buehring, Kuwait.

The Athletics shipped hats to the U.S. Army's Bravo Company Task Force 3/197th Field Artillery Soldiers (aka "The Night Riders"), for the filming of a special Memorial Day pregame message. The team and the unit recently exchanged caps and Spc. Mark Braden of Bravo Company and A's pitcher Dallas Braden (no relation) exchanged full uniforms.

Photos and footage of Spc. Braden tossing a ceremonial first pitch was shown on the in-stadium video board prior to Monday’s Oakland/New York Yankees game.

In the clip, the soldiers sported the two-toned green and yellow A’s hats. Back in Oakland, players donned U.S. Army patrol caps sent by Night Riders during batting practice and pregame warm-ups.

“The Athletics organization put together a very thoughtful Memorial Day tribute to our troops and veterans. Our armed forces risk their lives and make tremendous sacrifices every day to defend our rights and freedoms,” BDA vice president of client services Steve Avanessian said. “Seeing U.S. soldiers halfway around the world wearing hats BDA made for a stadium promotion was an incredible honor.”

Read MLB.com writer Tom Singer’s roundup of Memorial Day activities around the league here.