By Evan H.
Each year, men and women all over the country volunteer their services for the military. Anxious and hoping for the best, the families of these soldiers pray every day that their loved ones will return home; but sometimes they don’t.
Two years ago, a courageous soldier named Justin Whiting died in Mosul, Iraq, while fighting for his country. His father, Randy Whiting, is an employee at the Family Foundation School. When he heard of his son’s death, he wanted to create a Patriot Award for those who enter the military after high school. “I want young graduates to realize that if they are not ready for college and want to enter the military, than they should be able to receive the same opportunities for a scholarship as somebody going right into college,” said Whiting.
Whiting’s co-worker and friend, Chris Evaninsky, also wanted to commemorate Justin’s sacrifice as well as that of other fallen heroes.
“Being ex-military myself, I felt that I had to do something. I approached Randy. He wanted to start a Patriot Award for Hancock Central High School, and I felt a golf tournament would be a perfect way to fund the award,” said Evaninsky.
On Sunday, September 6, Evaninsky will be hosting the Fallen Heroes Golf Tournament at the French Woods Golf and Country Club to honor all of the soldiers who fight day in and day out for their country. “It’s a good event for a good cause, and whenever I stick my hand out for donations or anything for this tournament, it never comes back empty,” he said.
The proceeds from the tournament will not only fund the Patriot Award, but they will also benefit the Cameron Hall Scholarship Fund.
Cameron was a navy pilot who took off from an aircraft carrier, off the coast of Virginia and crashed into the water and died. He was originally from Louisiana, but came to New York to hunt and fish on his free time.
The tournament is open to all, not just golfers. It is only ten dollars for the chicken barbeque and there will even be face painting for the kids.
