People generally are excited about the prospect of meeting a professional athlete, and that was the mood at the Butler Veterans Affairs Medical Center on Wednesday.

That was the day Boston Red Sox pitcher Matt Clement, a Butler High School graduate, visited the center, talking to patients and passing out gifts.

Many professional athletes perform such kind gestures at this time of the year, but in reality they don't really have to "go that extra mile."

To his credit, Clement enjoys the opportunity, and it is especially notable that he regards it as important to visit a facility such as the medical center, which serves people who have been so dedicated to this nation's security and well-being.