Posted on 05/11/2007 12:46:15 PM PDT by pissant
MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO (May 11, 2007) -- Sunshine peeked through the trees just after 6:30 a.m. on Monday while hundreds of golfers gathered at Cottonwood Golf Club to raise money for active duty Marines wounded or injured in the line of duty.
Though it’s too early to tell how much was raised, last year’s Wounded Marines Benefit Golf Tournament brought in about $40,000, according to Cherri Barnswell, director, San Diego Armed Services YMCA.
Daryl Idler, co-owner of the club, donated the course for the day’s event. "It’s unprecedented that you get a free golf course," said Barnswell. She said there are normally fees attached to fundraisers like these, and was appreciative of the unhindered support.
One hundred percent of entry fees going directly towards helping the local military is a picture of what the community at large can do to support their military, according to Barnswell.
"It’s very typical of what the town wants to do for these guys," said Barnswell. "People call us all the time asking what they can do. Some give us a box of Girl Scout cookies because that is all they have. Daryl Idler has a golf course to offer; this is just more high profile. So many people want to help."
That help was evident when 222 golfers showed up to play. Each team was paired up with a service member, some of whom were part of the wounded Marine detachment at Naval Medical Center San Diego.
One of the reasons for the large turnout this year was that service members volunteered for the outing, said Brittany Catton, director of public relations and development, San Diego Armed Services YMCA.
"It is a really neat dynamic to have a Wounded Warrior or an active duty military member golfing along with the donors," said Catton. "That was the huge draw and that is what makes this so special."
Duncan Hunter, 52nd District congressman, was instrumental in developing this golf outing for the wounded Marines. Three years ago he made NMCSD a regular stop to identify and meet the needs of the injured and recovering service members.
It was during these visits that Joe Browning, the tournament coordinator and the senior congressional liaison for Duncan Hunter, found there were incidentals not covered by the military such as flying the wounded home for convalescent leave and bringing wives to their husband’s sides for surgeries.
Browning approached the Armed Services YMCA and found out that if Hunter’s office and the community raised money, the YMCA would be able to use it exclusively for those returning from combat and in need of assistance.
With that in mind and with the opportunity Idler provided, Browning was able to set things in motion for the tournament, which increased in size by more than 25 percent since the first year it was held.
“This was a result of the visitation of the service people,” said Browning. “We noticed this was an area that we could extend ourselves and help. It’s the only golf tournament of its kind in the world in that everything is donated for free (and the money goes directly to the military members).”
Some of the service members who played in the golf tournament had never played a day before in their lives, according to Staff Sgt. Victor Bachand, platoon sergeant, Medical Hold Platoon, NMCSD.
Bachand said that events like this expose the wounded Marines to new things and tighten up their unit cohesion.
"They are not Tiger Woods," said Bachand, who is originally from Anchorage, Alaska. "(But,) it brings them together and without a doubt they always have a good time doing something like this.
"A successful event like this is great for morale," he said. "(Now)There are a lot of guys asking to go to the driving range."
It was during these visits that Joe Browning, the tournament coordinator and the senior congressional liaison for Duncan Hunter, found there were incidentals not covered by the military such as flying the wounded home for convalescent leave and bringing wives to their husband’s sides for surgeries.
Hunter also has organized and participated in big game hunts with our wounded warriors.
DH PING
Did you see the photo of Reagan and Hunter US007 found. I posted it on the Iran/Syria thread.
There is not a candidate out there who can hold a candle to Duncan Hunter when it comes to our military. He was watching the backs of our men and women before 9/11. When I hear that Rudy or whoever are the only ones that can fight the WOT, I am absolutely flabbergasted. Here we have a man who has a respect for the military that no one even comes close to. He’s actually in the trenches fighting for them, and not for photo ops, either. He would be a CIC to be reckoned with.
And how does he spend his spare time? Working to get our wounded guys hunting, fishing, and golfing opportunities.
That is one of the reasons this man should be President!
Oddly enough, the main reason he’s relatively unknown is due to the fact that he has been working in support of all the traditional conservative ideals because he believes in them.
A lot of the so called conservatives we see these days work toward conservative ideals when there’s a camera present.
BTTT! Hooray Duncan Hunter!
When I meet Hunter, I’m going to shake his hand vigorously and thank him for not pulling a Schumer-esque dash to the microphones to denounce Ann Coulter for her faggot quip at CPAC.
(the big three trampled old ladies to get to one)
Exactly, and he does it WITHOUT a legion of photographers. He is so totally opposite all the politicians of late. He tells it like it is and does not try to manipulate people. He could just as easily do a John Kerry about VN and he could be using his son’s service as well to score brownie points but he doesn’t. I don’t know, but to me the guy is so totally about AMERICA AND AMERICANS, that he is inspirational without being smarmy.
Yep. In addition, he has been the #1 guy forcifully calling the dems BS, BS. For many years.
Golfers “FORE!” the Troops.
Gotta love them golfers.
ping
LOL, sorry, I pinged you and you are here :)
Bump
No problem.
He has been one of those men in our military. He knows what it’s all about and has shown it ever since he got to Congress. There will be no better Commander in Chief than Duncan Hunter.
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