The world became a better place last Friday when Chris White made the decision to leap from the outfield stands at Houston’s Minute Maid Park and make his way across the outfield after the final strike of a game between the Astros and the Texas Rangers.
As he touched down on the field, the Marine Corps veteran ditched his restrictive pants, blessing the eyes of the 42,592 in attendance by revealing a pair of freedom-emitting American flag silkies.
Aerodynamically prepared for maximum sprint ability, White then commenced his outfield jaunt, breaking the tackle of the first security guard and making the second look like a shoe-in for Saturday remedial PT. Heisman!
And while White’s excursion concluded with him surrendering to authorities, as most streaking displays do, the incident afforded him a platform to discuss an organization, Freedom Hard, he created to use humor to curb the glaring trend of veteran suicide, according to a Click 2 Houston report.
“If I can make you laugh for at least five minutes, then you’re not thinking about that dark space that you can potentially be in," White told Click 2 Houston. “And if I can gear it toward patriotism, to me, I consider that the holy grail.”
Once apprehended, White was arrested and charged with trespassing, the Houston Police Department confirmed.
Shortly after his arrest, a GoFundMe was created to bail the silky-wearing Marine out of jail, the report said. The effort generated $550, which White then donated to Camp4Heroes, a 184-acre retreat in North Carolina that aims to help veterans rebuild and readjust to civilian life.
White provided Click 2 Houston with the donation receipt as proof.
“There are organizations out there that support the prevention of veteran suicides and if you are a veteran that’s struggling, there is hope,” he said. “I can assure you that.”
Whether any future streaking endeavors are in White’s future remains to be seen, but his unique methods of raising awareness appear to be here to stay.
“I am not a serial streaker, but I have been known to take my clothes off to show red, white and blue.”
Jon Simkins is the executive editor for Military Times and Defense News, and a Marine Corps veteran of the Iraq War.
