Ponte Vedra — The TPC Sawgrass Charity Golf Tournament Benefitting the Wounded Warrior Project will take place on Veteran’s Day at the Stadium Golf Course in Ponte Vedra. More than 100 attendees will play golf with 12 wounded warriors to raise awareness and funds in supporting WWP. Since their inception 2003, the WWP has worked “tirelessly” to advocate for American veterans.
Retired Lt. General and WWP CEO Mike Linnington describes the organization as instrumental in helping those who selflessly sacrificed for the freedoms that Americans live by.
“The WWP honors and empowers our nation’s Wounded Warriors,” he said. “Our organization supports more than 200 thousand wounded and injured service members that have served since the 9/11 attacks. Our variety of programs and services help to heal mentally, physically, emotionally and financially. We find jobs.”
Linnington was sitting “just a short distance” from where the plane hit the Pentagon.
“9/11 was a wake up call for America,” he said. “It also inspired a lot of young people to volunteer to the service of our country.”
Linnington was deployed with many who were wounded and killed.
“That’s why this event is important to me,” he continued. “Not just to honor the fallen, we do that on Memorial Day, but to honor the service, commitment and sacrifice of so many veterans that have served. And not just after 9/11 but in previous generations as well.”
He described America’s military as exceptional in protecting our freedoms and keeping us safe.
“As we raise awareness and support for WWP, I remind myself that 200k young people are still deployed in 170 countries around the world,” said Linnington. “We have to remember them as we remember all of the veterans that have served over the last 246 years.”
Linnington stressed the importance of being active and engaging in sports as part of the recovery process. According to WWP’s last annual survey, wounded and disabled veterans agree that physical activities decrease stress while increasing stamina and improving one’s mental health. And what better venue to do so, he says, than to be out in nature to play golf?
“Warrior Frank said it best,” he continued. “He said, ‘I cant throw a touchdown like Tom Brady or dunk a basketball like LeBron James. But if I make par in the hole, I feel really good.’ So this sense of achievement and accomplishment that comes with time on the golf course not only helps bring warriors together, it also helps them overcome some of the anxiety, fear, stress and tension they have faced over the last 20 years.”
The West Point Graduate added that golf is a great way to bond with other veterans.
“Veterans can reconnect and re-establish those bonds of friendship, camaraderie, cohesion, brotherhood and sisterhood,” he said.
Sporting a 35-year resume from the U.S. Army, Linnington encourages everyone to reach out to thank a veteran for their service, especially on Veteran’s Day.
“Let them know that you’re there to support them as they transition from uniform service into civilian life,” he said. “Transition is especially difficult for disabled veterans and wounded veterans because while doing the normal transition things - finding a house, a job, a school for the kids - you’re also recovering from wounds of war either physical or emotional.”
Linnington shared his gratitude for the community support WWP has received in conjunction with the event. The event falls in line with his ideal of patriotism.
“Patriotism is about caring,” he concluded. “Caring for each other, caring for our country, and caring for our way of life and the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. And it’s about answering the call. When I think back to certainly my 35 years in the Army and the 246 plus years that our military has been around, generations of military service members have answered the call.
To me, that’s why Veterans day is important, that’s why this golf event is important, and that’s why I look forward to meeting everybody on the course and visiting with those that are supporting our mission.”