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Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper returns to the dugout at the end of an inning on May 22, 2018.

Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper returns to the dugout at the end of an inning on May 22, 2018. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper returns to the dugout at the end of an inning on May 22, 2018.

Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper returns to the dugout at the end of an inning on May 22, 2018. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

Washington Nationals center fielder Michael A. Taylor misses his attempt at a diving catch on a line drive by Franmil Reyes of the San Diego Padres in the fourth inning of a game at Washington, D.C., May 22, 2018.

Washington Nationals center fielder Michael A. Taylor misses his attempt at a diving catch on a line drive by Franmil Reyes of the San Diego Padres in the fourth inning of a game at Washington, D.C., May 22, 2018. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

With shortstop Freddy Galvis looming right in front of him, San Diego Padres left fielder Franchy Cordero tries to haul in a fly ball off the bat of the Washington Nationals' Bryce Harper in the first inning of a game at Washington, D.C., May 22, 2018. Cordero dropped the ball, and Harper ended up on second base.

With shortstop Freddy Galvis looming right in front of him, San Diego Padres left fielder Franchy Cordero tries to haul in a fly ball off the bat of the Washington Nationals' Bryce Harper in the first inning of a game at Washington, D.C., May 22, 2018. Cordero dropped the ball, and Harper ended up on second base. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

Washington Nationals baserunner Juan Soto is picked off first base in the second inning of a game against the San Diego Padres at Washington, D.C., May 22, 2018. Applying the tag is the Padres' Eric Hosmer.

Washington Nationals baserunner Juan Soto is picked off first base in the second inning of a game against the San Diego Padres at Washington, D.C., May 22, 2018. Applying the tag is the Padres' Eric Hosmer. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

Washington Nationals rookie Juan Soto prepares for a game against the San Diego Padres at Washington, D.C., May 22, 2018.

Washington Nationals rookie Juan Soto prepares for a game against the San Diego Padres at Washington, D.C., May 22, 2018. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

Washington Nationals bench coach Chip Hale works on the lineup card before a game against the San Diego Padres at Nationals Park on May 22, 2018.

Washington Nationals bench coach Chip Hale works on the lineup card before a game against the San Diego Padres at Nationals Park on May 22, 2018. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

Washington Nationals rookie Juan Soto jokes with teammate Matt Adams in the dugout before a game at Washington, D.C. on May 22, 2018.

Washington Nationals rookie Juan Soto jokes with teammate Matt Adams in the dugout before a game at Washington, D.C. on May 22, 2018. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

Chief Musician Shana Sullivan of the U.S. Navy Band sings the national anthem as San Diego Padres players and coaches stand on the baseline before a game at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., May 22, 2018.

Chief Musician Shana Sullivan of the U.S. Navy Band sings the national anthem as San Diego Padres players and coaches stand on the baseline before a game at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., May 22, 2018. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

Rep. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., celebrates after throwing the ceremonial first pitch before a game between the Washington Nationals and San Diego Padres in Washington, D.C., May 22, 2018. McSally is wearing a t-shirt depicting the A-10 "Warthog" aircraft, which she flew as the first female combat pilot in the U.S. military.

Rep. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., celebrates after throwing the ceremonial first pitch before a game between the Washington Nationals and San Diego Padres in Washington, D.C., May 22, 2018. McSally is wearing a t-shirt depicting the A-10 "Warthog" aircraft, which she flew as the first female combat pilot in the U.S. military. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

Sporting a t-shirt depicting an A-10 "Warthog" aircraft like the one she flew as an Air Force pilot, Rep. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., prepares to throw the ceremonial first pitch on Women in the Military Day at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., May 22, 2018.

Sporting a t-shirt depicting an A-10 "Warthog" aircraft like the one she flew as an Air Force pilot, Rep. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., prepares to throw the ceremonial first pitch on Women in the Military Day at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., May 22, 2018. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

A U.S. Marine Corps color guard arrives for a ceremony before a Washington Nationals game on May 22, 2018.

A U.S. Marine Corps color guard arrives for a ceremony before a Washington Nationals game on May 22, 2018. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

The Washington Nationals' grounds crew clears the tarpaulin after a pre-game downpour on May 22, 2018.

The Washington Nationals' grounds crew clears the tarpaulin after a pre-game downpour on May 22, 2018. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

Rep. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., salutes as the national anthem is sung by Chief Musician Shana Sullivan of the U.S. Navy Band (shown on the scoreboard) before a game on May 22, 2018. McSally, a former U.S. Air Force combat pilot, threw out the ceremonial first pitch to mark Women in the Military Day at Nationals Park.

Rep. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., salutes as the national anthem is sung by Chief Musician Shana Sullivan of the U.S. Navy Band (shown on the scoreboard) before a game on May 22, 2018. McSally, a former U.S. Air Force combat pilot, threw out the ceremonial first pitch to mark Women in the Military Day at Nationals Park. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes)

WASHINGTON — America's first female combat pilot was among those honored Tuesday as the Washington Nationals continued their season-long patriotic-themed program with Women in the Military Day.

Rep. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Nationals hosted the San Diego Padres at Nationals Park. McSally wore a t-shirt depicting an A-10 Thunderbolt II "Warthog" aircraft like the one she flew in the Middle East and whose place in the nation's arsenal she has championed amid efforts to retire the plane whose support capabilities make it popular among ground troops.

The national anthem was sung by Chief Musician Shana Sullivan of the U.S. Navy Band.

The Nats won the game, 2-1.

Other 2018 games in the Nats' Patriotic Series include Independence Day (July 4 vs. Boston) and Heroes Day (Sept. 9 vs. the Chicago Cubs).

Also on the schedule are Military Branch Days, honoring the individual services. The Navy was in the spotlight on May 1; remaining are the Army (June 10 vs. San Francisco), the Marine Corps (July 31 vs. the New York Mets), the Coast Guard (Aug. 4 vs. Cincinnati) and the Air Force (Sep. 20 vs. the Mets).

The Nationals and PenFed also offer a "Tickets for Troops" program in which active-duty servicemembers, dependents, veterans, retirees, and reservists can get complimentary or discounted tickets.

news@stripes.com

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