Tee It Up For The Troops

Tee It Up For the Troops is a non profit organization with a mission to honor, remember, respect, and support all those who serve(d) in the Armed Forces.  Since 2005 it has donated over $10 million in support of treatment of PTSD, and Traumatic Brain Injury, housing & homelessness, suicide prevention, employment, family and caregiver support, and sports rehabilitation for veterans.

This year as part of Tee It Up For The Troops' Longest Day of Golf Event, I will be golfing with three close friends of mine from my college days.  This year my dad will not be joining us because of COVID concerns, which is unfortunate because we both enjoy spending this time together, but is totally understandable.  He will be there in spirit and missed,  For those that don't know, my dad served as a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War.  I always knew that was a difficult job.  It  required so much bravery and courage, but I don't think I truly appreciated it until a couple of years ago when my family visited a replica of the Vietnam War Memorial (The Wall) at the St. Paul Capital.  While visiting, we also got to climb aboard a UH-1 Huey Helicopter which was the kind that my dad flew.  I got to chatting with another Vietnam veteran who served during the same years as my dad.  When he found out that my dad was a helicopter pilot he broke right into tears because to soldiers on the ground, the sound of the approaching helicopters was a beacon of hope.  They were awe struck that someone they didn't know would land under fire to rescue them.

My dad had many close calls while flying in Vietnam.  There were multiple times when his helicopter was shot, and as he calls it "The Pucker Factor" was off the charts!  He has shared his Vietnam memoirs with me, and I consider it the greatest gift that I received from him, besides him being a terrific role model and dad.

After talking to him many times about his experiences in Vietnam I would consider him one of the lucky ones.  He came home, was not wounded, has not experienced any PTSD, had a family and successful career as a lawyer and as an officer in the National Guard.  There are many others who were not as lucky and those veterans are the reason that we are golfing in the "Longest Day of Golf". 

Please consider donating to this great cause.  Last year we got in 63 holes of golf.  This year, because of COVID, the tournament was delayed a couple of months  so we will have less light to play under.  However, I still think we can get in at least 54 holes.  Please consider donating a lump sum, or $.50, $1, or more a hole if you like.

Thank You

Luke