Minneapolis ? Two Army Reservists from Minnesota threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Twins’ home opener Friday night from Kuwait.

Wearing Twins caps and jerseys, Josh Tverberg and Greta Lind did the honors live via satellite on the Metrodome’s large video screens. They were joined on camera by reservists Kirby Oaks of Rochester; Jim Oleen, a native of Milaca; Master Sgt. Betsey DePoint of Fridley and Lt. Col. Mike Walton.

Families of the soldiers took the field and listened as each soldier thanked their families and friends for support.

“We’ll be home soon,” Lind said, drawing cheers from the sellout crowd.

For Tverberg’s mother, Kathy Dvorak, it was the first time she’d seen her son since he left shortly after Christmas.

“I was so proud,” Dvorak said, wearing a yellow ribbon on her red sweater. “It’s just overwhelming.”

Dvorak said it was comforting to participate in the ceremony along with the other families.

“It was really great to be able to meet these people,” she said.

The pitch was part of a patriotic-themed pregame ceremony that included the Army’s 34th Infantry Division Band and a video collage of war footage from Iraq.

Throughout the game, the video screen displayed taped messages from soldiers serving in the Middle East.

Twins officials said they wanted to do something significant for the troops overseas before the start of Friday night’s game against Toronto.

“We’ll pay tribute to some of the accomplishments that took place on the ball field last year,” said Patrick Klinger, Twins vice president of marketing. “But there are people on the battlefield right now where the stakes are much higher.”