Alexandria — “Our picture tonight in front of the Home of the Titans sign depicts the reality of the strong and vibrant community of Alexandria.”

— Alexandria Little League president Gus Chiarello

Less than a week after a gunman attacked Republican congressmen practicing for a charity baseball game at Simpson Park in Del Ray, Alexandria Little League organized a community-wide “Take Back Simpson Park” event June 20 to celebrate the reopening of the field.

“I can’t tell you how it warms my heart to drive up and see people and Little League teams and families, and not crime-scene tape and the FBI and all the law enforcement,” said U.S. Rep Joe Barton (R-Texas), manager of the Republican team who was present during the June 14 attack at Eugene Simpson Stadium Park.

Barton recounted the events that left House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) in critical condition and turned the field into a crime scene for several days. Mayor Allison Silberberg and

city officials also addressed the crowd, thanking the many first responders and community members who helped in the wake of the attacks.

For more than 60 years, Simpson Field has hosted youth baseball games and Alexandria Little League president Gus Chiarello organized the event to help welcome back baseball to the Del Ray community.

Sporting jerseys and special t-shirts that read “Alexandria is our city, Simpson is our home,” athletes from across the city joined hundreds of residents and representatives from Alexandria Police, Fire/EMS and Sheriff’s Office in celebrating the reopening of the field with a group photo in front of the Big Simpson scoreboard.

Two games were scheduled for the night: the junior division Harris Teeter team played Fort Hunt Little League on the big field and the ages 9-10-11 All-Star team played Mason District All-Stars on the little field.

“It was very important that we have this event for us as a community,” Chiarello said. “Last week the world saw an image of our field with police tape. Our picture tonight in front of the Home of the Titans sign depicts the reality of the strong and vibrant community of Alexandria.”