Vietnam Veteran's Final Mission Benefited Thousands

Phoenix, AZ – A Vietnam veteran's lasting legacy is ensuring thousands of fellow veterans and first responders can experience live events, following his final wish. Joe Pasternack, who served in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1966, recently saw over 360 veterans and their family members attend New York Yankees games, made possible by his estate gift.

Pasternack, a lifelong New York Yankees fan, had benefited from free tickets provided by the Veteran Tickets Foundation (Vet Tix). In return, he became an active advocate for the organization, personally referring more than 1,800 veterans, service members, and first responders to join.

Vet Tix has grown into the nation's largest veteran service organization, distributing over 41 million free event tickets to more than 2.8 million members since 2008. The organization provides tickets to sporting events, concerts, and family activities for veterans, active military personnel, and first responders.

Joe Pasternack passed away in August 2023. His final gift to Vet Tix was used to commemorate his life by hosting 360 members and their families at Yankee Stadium for games between the Yankees and the New York Mets in September 2026. "We are missing a good friend; however, we honored his legacy," said Vet Tix Founder, CEO, and U.S. Navy veteran Michael A. Focareto III.