MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. – Luis R. Clemente joined staff with the National Museum of the Marine Corps in a brick laying ceremony to commemorate his father, Roberto Clemente, at the Semper Fidelis Memorial Park in Triangle, Virginia, Sept. 7, 2022.

“This is very special to me because of all the accolades that dad accomplished. He was extremely proud of being a Marine,” Luis Clemente said, “I was here with mom when he was inducted into the Marine Sports Hall of Fame and to now have him here, officially with his fellow Marines, is something that he would be very happy about and very proud of.”
Roberto Clemente Walker was a Major League Baseball player who also served in the Marine Corps Reserves. Aside from being a MLB Hall of Famer, Clemente spent much of his time during the off-season involved in charity work.

“Dad was a man who was very conscious about how the blessings he received should be shared to make a difference and an impact in other lives,” said Clemente, “He always became a voice for those who didn’t have a voice, and represented those who don’t have everything in life.”

The ceremony was held to memorialize Clemente’s legacy and his piece in Marine Corps history. The brick was placed in honor of the 50th anniversary of Roberto Clemente’s 3000th hit Sept. 30, 1972 and of his untimely death a few months later that same year.

The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation’s Commemorative Brick Program serves to honor all Marines, past and present, by permanently including them as a part of Marine Corps history. The engraved bricks line the pathways of the Semper Fidelis Memorial Park that overlooks the National Museum of the Marine Corps.

Roberto Clemente started his career playing baseball in Puerto Rico before moving to the Minor Leagues, and finally making it to the Major Leagues in 1955. He played for the Pittsburg Pirates until 1972, and he was named an All-Star and National League MVP. Clemente enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserves in 1958 and served during the off-seasons through 1964.

“Roberto Clemente was a great athlete to be sure, but more than that he was a great human being,” said Sara Hogan, senior development manager, Marine Corps Heritage Foundation.

Clemente died in a plane crash Dec. 31, 1972. The plane was delivering emergency supplies to Nicaragua in light of the giant earthquake that devastated the country a few months prior. Clemente was posthumously inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973 and the Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.

“He lived out the very values the Marine Corps espouses…the values everyone expects from a U.S. Marine…honor, courage, commitment, service and sacrifice,” said Hogan.