JUNE 2014 SUNRAYS | 37
ONLINE:
SCTXCA.ORG
E
very two years, Sun City Texas is
honored to host the Thanks to the
Troops Vet-Am Golf Tournament.
This year, the event will take place on
Thursday, June 26 at White Wing Golf
Course. Organized by resident Anne
Henry, Thanks to the Troops brings ap-
proximately 108 soldiers from Fort Hood
to Sun City Texas for lunch, a game of
golf, dinner and prizes.
The day of the event, Sun City Texas
residents line Sun City Blvd. near the
Highway 195 entrance to wave in the
buses of soldiers as they enter around 11
a.m. Once the buses reach White Wing
Golf Course, they’re met with even more
residents waving, waiting to greet the
soldiers and thank them for their service.
At White Wing, the troops meet the vet-
erans who will play golf with them. Sun
City Texas veterans are able to sponsor a
soldier to play and also enter a drawing
(on June 1) to be one of 36 veterans to
join the troops in the tournament (one
veteran per three soldiers in a four-man
scramble). Teams tee off at 1 p.m. and
many neighborhoods greet the teams
with water, soft drinks and snacks at
the tee boxes.
After the game, the troops and veterans
make their way to the Legacy Hills Park
Pavilion for dinner, entertainment and
prizes, which are donated. The best part?
Every soldier leaves with a cash prize—
no one goes home empty-handed.
The entire day is sponsored by donations,
and there’s even money left over to give
to the Ft. Hood USO. In 2012, the sol-
diers were given more than $3,000 in
prizes, and left with a check of more than
$20,000 for the USO—not to mention all
of the left-over snacks provided by the
neighborhoods.
This day is a small way to show howmuch
we appreciate these men and women, and
all they have given for us and our country.
To volunteer or for details on how you can
help with the 2014 Thanks to the Troops,
contact Anne Henry at 512-869-7934 or
W
henever
you have the chance or opportunity, thank them,
shake their hand, give them a pat on the back for
the job they have done because they have earned it. That is the greatest reward
any service member can receive. A simple “Thank You.”
~ Army Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry,
Medal of Honor Winner, 2012
Thanks to the Troops
Vet-Am Golf Tournament supports our soldiers
Photo by SHERRY MCRAE
