Ryan Zimmerman, “Mr. National,” named as Sports Marshal

Jeremy Luttrell, president of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival®, is pleased to announce Ryan Zimmerman will serve as the Sports Marshal of the 2025 “Field of Blooms” Festival. Ryan’s appearance is being sponsored by Rubbermaid Commercial Products (RCP). 
 
Zimmerman, who earned the nicknames 'Mr. National' and 'Employee No. 11', for his longevity and overall impact on the Washington Nationals franchise, spent 17 years in the big leagues and has become the face of a generation for DC sports enthusiasts. A two-time All-Star and 2019 World Series champion, Ryan holds franchise records for games played, hits, home runs, RBI, and runs amongst many others. Ryan debuted for the Nationals in 2005, just a few months after becoming the team’s first-ever draft pick out of the University of Virginia. 
 
Off the field, Ryan’s commitment to the community has been unrivaled since stepping foot in DC. He has been recognized with the Jefferson Award for public service, the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award for character and integrity, while he is also a multi-time Roberto Clemente and Branch Rickey Award nominee recognizing his achievements in community accomplishments. Ryan has been instrumental in helping raise awareness and funds in the fight against multiple sclerosis (MS) – and via his ziMS Foundation, has given back more than $4 million to this cause. In 2020 when COVID struck, Ryan became one of the first professional athletes to raise funds for first responders and health care workers via his “Pro’s for Heroes” campaign, and he continues to look to use his influence in helping others through a number of initiatives to this day. 
 
At home in McLean, VA, Ryan and his wife, Heather, are proud parents of four (4) while he continues to work with the Washington Nationals as an ownership advisor. 
 
Zimmerman will make appearances at different Festival events including the Hang 10 Car Wash Firefighters’ Parade on Friday, May 2, at 5:30 p.m.  He will be the keynote speaker at the Partlow Sports Breakfast in the Tolley Dental Zone at the James R. Wilkins, Jr, Athletic and Events Center on the Shenandoah University campus on Saturday, May 3 at 9 a.m.  That afternoon he will be riding in the glo fiber Grand Feature Parade, which will step off at 1:30 p.m. 
 
Tickets to Festival events are available at www.thebloom.com/events