- Giants Mascot, Lou Seal and Furthur’s Jeff Pehrson
Have you ever stood in a place larger than life, surrounded by larger than life characters, listening to them talk about an even larger than life character, and found yourself wondering…. How did I get here? This was my experience standing on the field of AT&T Park in San Francisco on Monday, August 9th, watching members of the Grateful Dead and its extended family pay tribute to Jerry Garcia on the memorial of his passing, 15 years to the day.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjl3rl-Vo7I[/youtube]
- Mickey Hart, Bill Walton, Annabelle Garcia and representatives of the Rex Foundation receive a check from the SF Giants
Photos of Jerry flashed on the jumbotron as Bill Walton spoke kind words of tribute, standing with Garcia’s daughter Annabelle on one side, and Mickey Hart to the other. The Rex Foundation was presented with a check of $40,000 by the San Francisco Giants. One of the foundation’s members turned to me and smiled as she said, “We are determined not to lose this thing– You’re in charge,” and placed the oversized check against the wall I was leaning on. Moments later Bob Weir, Phil Lesh and Jeff Pehrson of Furthur were ushered out to the field just steps in front of me to sing the national anthem. The three men were granted complete silence in the stadium as they belted out an impressively strong anthem, erupting the crowd into an outcry of love and applause. Weir, Lesh and Pehrson high-fived each other and hugged; celebrating a job truly well done.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bTY2NGkesI[/youtube]
- Cryptical played pre-game atop Cub’s dugout
There was so much genuine joy abuzz in the stadium on this evening, as is often the case when Deadheads get together. Local San Francisco Dead tribute band ‘Cryptical’ had earlier played a short set atop the Cubs dugout, and Hart and Walton participated in a Rex Foundation pre-party before heading out onto the field. Entire sections of the stadium were dedicated to Deadheads where Jerry Bobbleheads were given away, and orange kazoos were handed out for a special 7th inning stretch version of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” led by Mickey Hart. Homemade Jerry shirts and signs took over the stadium as tye-dye claddened hippies and Giants fans alike were enjoying the festivities, proving just how deeply San Francisco embraces its Grateful Dead family legacy.
