by Evan Pattak, for the Meadows

Washington, PA — To honor the memory of two of his fallen service members, PA Army National Guardsman Grant Boudreau helped The Meadows Racetrack & Casino and the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association plan and stage a Memorial Day weekend tribute to his comrades — and all veterans.

Chris Gooden photo

Members of The Meadows horsemen’s colony gathered in the winner’s circle for a moment of silence.

Boudreau, a horseman and longtime racing fan currently stationed in Afghanistan, conceived the tribute following the deaths in a helicopter crash of two members of his unit, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Mathew Ruffner and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jarret Yoder.

Prior to Saturday’s card, members of The Meadows horsemen’s colony gathered in the winner’s circle for a moment of silence. Later, the connections of Sam Hill, winner of the fifth race, designated the Ruffner/Yoder Memorial Pace, received a blanket bearing the words “One Heart on Three,” the motto of the unit in which Ruffner and Yoder served.

Boudreau indicated he would attempt to watch the ceremony from Afghanistan via The Meadows website.

“We still follow racing when we can,” he said. “Our Internet is very slow, but we enjoy and miss The Meadows.”