Tony Gwynn Memorial Tribute scheduled for June 26th

It was announced last night prior to the game that, as expected, the Padres will be holding a Tony Gwynn Memorial tribute at Petco Park.  The event will take place next Thursday, June 26th at 7:19.

In this military town, it's only appropriate we remember Tony Gwynn next Thursday @ 19:19 @ Petco Park.

— Mark Grant (@Mudcat55) June 19, 2014

Memorial tribute to Tony Gwynn | padres.com: News

The event will celebrate Tony's legendary life, accomplishments, and contributions to the Padres, to San Diego, and to the sport of baseball. It will feature special guests from throughout his lifetime. Free parking will be provided in three locations: two surface lots along Imperial Avenue (Parcel C lot and Tailgate lot) on the southeast side of Petco Park, and the Padres Parkade garage (10th Ave at J St).

If anything like the memorial service for Jerry Coleman, fans are in for an emotional ride as they remember another departed San Diego legend. The pre-game ceremonies last night gave those in attendance a sneak peak at some of the emotions that are sure to surface within themselves.

Here's Marty Caswell's video of the ceremony with the scoreboard tribute.

I'm currently at a weird place in my mourning.  I still haven't been able to really come to grips with Gwynn's death.  I know he's gone, but it doesn't feel like it yet.  You hear people say of their lost loved ones "I feel like at any moment he could just come walking around the corner".  That's me right now.  Even hearing Gwynn's voice from his Hall of Fame speech echoing over the PA system last night at the park, just felt to me like he was in attendance.  I have yet to grieve.

Watching the Padres video tribute in the pre-game ceremony almost got me there, but then I was snapped out of it by a distraction near me. After the video ended I looked at the faces in the crowd and saw many openly weeping and wiping tears from their eyes.  I envied them.  I'm hoping that this memorial service next Thursday can help me through the grieving process and give us all the opportunity to comfort Gwynn's family by showing, once again, how much we loved and respected their Tony.