When I was younger, I didn’t realize the full meaning of Veteran’s Day. Yeah, I knew what it was all about. I knew the reason for it. But, despite having a father who was a veteran of the Vietnam War, I was still in the dark as far as the meaning of Veteran’s Day to actual veterans as well as the active military.
But over time, especially considering the events of the past ten years, I’ve grown to understand more fully the effect of Veteran’s Day. But for me, it was never more understood than when I began to meet some of the veterans face-to-face.
Though my experience was not golf-related, being in the golf-blogging world, I have gotten to learn about several of the charitable organizations related to veterans. Organizations such as Wounded Warriors Project as well as the golf-related Bunkers in Baghdad have given inspiration, help and hope to both wounded veterans as well as the active military still hard at work overseas.
Though I’ve gained some understanding of the meaning of these organizations to the veterans themselves by reading many of the comments from both the organizers and veterans alike, you can’t quite get the full effect unless you hear it directly from the horse’s mouth.
I was fortunate enough to gain this perspective a month ago while assisting my wife at a local fair. Setting up a booth to help raise money for her Wear Red Fridays campaign, I had the opportunity to meet many veterans, as well as their friends and family, who stopped by the booth either to purchase a t-shirt, donate money or just give thanks for the support. It’s from the veterans and active military that you can really understand what the support of others means to them.
So this Veteran’s Day, keep in mind the reason this holiday exists in the first place. Unfortunately, it sometimes seems more like a reason for a car dealership to promote a “sale.” But if you take a minute to speak to one of our brave servicemen or women, you will gain a better understanding of the appreciation they have for the support of the people for whom they are serving.
Swing ’til you’re happy!
Who are your Golf Heros?
My great uncle served as a side gunner on a B-26 bomber during WWII, and served as my mentor on the golf course nearly 50 years later. He flew on 66 missions during the war and was shot down, behind enemy lines, during the Battle of the Bulge (his entire crew survived the crash).
After the war, he took-up golf and continued playing through the early part of this decade. When I first took-up the game, he was in his late 60’s and his best golfing days were behind him…Yet I was still no match for this senior. I would out-drive him by 60 yards, but he was a master at accuracy – he’d hit it 200-yards into the middle of the fairway, and I’d hit it 260 into the right rough or OB left. We’d meet on the green and he’d putt-out for bogey and I’d take a double – it never failed.
Now, in his 80’s, his golfing days are over (though he still enjoys watching the tour on TV and hearing about the latest course I’ve tackled, and how well (or poorly) I fared). I wish he could still get out there on the course, but age has a way of catching up to all of us.
I thought of my uncle today, on Veteran’s Day – the service to his country, and his tutoring of me on the golf course – and it reminded me that some people went to hell and back for the freedoms we have – even something as immaterial as playing a round of golf.
If you are looking for a golf connection to our veterans, please spend some time on the Birdies for the Brave website. If you would like to read more about my uncle’s 66 missions, or other stories from veterans, please visit Witness-to-War.org (see the listing under “Frank Maturo”).
Update: Unc passed in 2011 but his memory – both what he did for his country and for me on the golf course will remain.