The US Army says that of all the Army values, honor is the one that embodies all the others. Honor is a matter of carrying out, acting, and living the values of respect, duty, loyalty, selfless service, integrity and personal courage in everything you do. The US Navy is dedicated to the Core Values of Honor, Courage, and commitment. The US Airforce Honor Oath proclaims “We will not lie, steal, or cheat, nor tolerate among us anyone who does. Furthermore, I resolve to do my duty and to live honorably, (so help me God).”
We all think we understand honor. But what many people don’t see is the sacrifice that comes with it. Our soldiers literally give their lives to defend this honor. The ones that return from combat with their life intact often return with injuries, both physical and emotional. Those with physical injuries such as missing limbs are easy to spot, but those who are suffering emotional injuries are not. Twenty-two service men per day commit suicide that is one every 65 minutes! Marriages and families are destroyed. The transition to civilian life can be extremely difficult.
But then there is golf and Fairways for Warriors. Golf has made me a better person, mentally, physically, and socially. It has provided me with the tools to be successful in my life and it has given me some of my closest friends. I want to share that gift with the help of Fairways for Warriors with our veterans in need.
Fairways for Warriors is headquartered in Orlando, Florida, and have been proudly serving the combat wounded veterans of the Central Florida area since its founding in 2010. They also have squads located in Jacksonville and Tampa, Florida, as well as Texas and Rhode Island. Their mission is to provide hope, healing, and camaraderie for combat wounded veterans and their families. They provide golf clinics to veterans and their families, as well as their annual Veterans Day tournament in Orlando. Fairways for Warriors recently announced the opening of the Central Florida indoor Training and Life Center (TLC) for our combat wounded veterans and their families. Combat wounded veterans run the entire facility. The TLC is a path to physical and emotional healing through the socializing and rehabilitative nature of the game of golf. The 6,700 square foot facility is the first indoor golf facility in the U.S. exclusively catering to combat wounded veterans and their families. The facility includes: a counseling room, an internet café, a 40’ x 20’ putting green, a chipping and full swing area, one full golf simulator, a club repair and grip refitting workshop, and a Warrior Fit rehab and workout area with a focus on golf training and fitness.The TLC is much more than a place for combat wounded veterans to work on their golf game it is a place that changes and saves lives.
I am also starting a club donation campaign. Most of us have several playable clubs just lying around. Your old set is not just someone’s first set of clubs, but and an opportunity to start to heal through the love of the game and the personal relationships that make golf special. I will be collecting clubs at the tournaments which I attend and also at golf clubs in the Central Florida area. If you would like to donate any clubs, please contact me.
My goal is to raise $1,000. Would you consider making a donation and making a difference?
There are two ways to contribute - Click Donate Now
- You can make a one-time donation and your credit card will be charged now.
- Or, you can pledge a specific amount for every birdie or eagle I make. I will keep you up to date during the season and then contact you at the end to let you know how much you owe.
If you would like to send a check, please write the check to the American Junior Golf Association and make sure to include my name in the memo section. Please mail to:
AJGA – Leadership Links
1980 Sports Club Drive
Braselton, GA 30517
Thank you in advance for any support you can lend.
Sincerely,
Aidan P Kramer
aidankramer18@gmail.com
