Two years ago, Maj. Dan Rooney had a life-altering experience on a flight home from his second of three tours of duty in Iraq, where he was an F-16 fighter pilot.
Photo provided
Lakeview Golf and Country Club PGA professional Tony Biata stands by his cart during his marathon golf round, which lasted 156 holes over 13.5 hours, Aug. 31. Biata was raising money for Patriot Golf Day and the Folds of Honor Foundation, which assists families of soldiers who where either killed in action or missing in action in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Lakeview Golf and Country Club PGA professional Tony Biata stands by his cart during his marathon golf round, which lasted 156 holes over 13.5 hours, Aug. 31. Biata was raising money for Patriot Golf Day and the Folds of Honor Foundation, which assists families of soldiers who where either killed in action or missing in action in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Rooney heard an announcement from the plane's captain as they landed, asking the passengers to remain seated in honor of a fallen soldier that was being taken off the plane. As the casket, draped in an American flag, was unloaded, Rooney watched the family of Cpl. Brock Bucklin, saw the tears of his parents, wife and 4-year-old son, and became emotional himself.
“When I saw that family grieving, I knew that I wanted to help them,” Rooney said. “I didn't even know who the soldier was at the time or anything but I knew that I wanted to do something. Within a couple of days, I looked around and found the name of the soldier in a newspaper article and tucked it away. Within the next year I had begun the Folds of Honor Foundation and was able to reach out and get a scholarship to Cpl. Bucklin's 6-year-old son Jacob.”
What began as a quest to help one family became a mission to help many families in similar situations all over the country. Two years ago, Rooney began the foundation and instituted Patriot Golf Day, which is recognized by the PGA of America every Labor Day weekend. It is supported by golf courses and clubs all over the country in 41 PGA sections. Local courses Lakeview Golf and Country Club and Dutch Hollow Country Club are participating this year.
Over the weekend, the courses involved ask for a donation of one dollar added to each green fee. Those dollars go straight to the Folds of Honor Foundation, which has been able to give out more than 600 scholarships.
Tony Biata, PGA golf professional at Lakeview, and John Lombardo, the pro at Dutch Hollow, both decided to partake in golf marathons for Patriot Golf Day. Biata golfed his round on Aug. 31, while Lombardo is doing his today with friend Mike Hogan.
Biata said he started his round at 6:40 a.m. and finished at 8:20 p.m., playing 156 holes in the process.
And while Biata took Patriot Golf Day to a whole new level at Lakeview, he's tried to make it a season-long endeavor to raise money for Folds of Honor.
“When Rooney came to speak to us at our spring meeting, I was so moved by his story,” Biata said. “I decided that something needed to be done to help further this cause, so I decided to make it a whole season instead of one weekend. I thought if this foundation can earn as much as they do in one weekend, why not see what we can do all season.”
In addition to a donation jar in the pro shop, Biata has put together fundraising events like Couples Night at the golf course, he's sold hats and Lakeview has held raffles.
During his all-day golf marathon, Biata raised nearly $1,000, at the cost of some extra back pain, of course.
“I got tired after about 100 holes and thought to myself about the men and women who lost their lives or are completely disabled so that I can have the right to golf all day,” Biata said. “Freedom is not free and as long as we do things like this, give back what we can and realize what they have given for us, then they are not forgotten.”
Golfing until the sun went down, Biata said he felt like he was playing for each individual soldier who had given their lives in either Iraq or Afghanistan.
“I don't know what it was, adrenaline or souls helping me,” Biata said. “I don't know how I made it but I wasn't sore until I was done and I wasn't going to stop until I couldn't golf anymore. I owed it to all the people who gave their lives for my freedom.”
“Biata is truly a leader when it comes to what a golf course can do for Patriot Golf Day,” Rooney added. “Some of the greatest patriots I have known have never put on a uniform and he falls into that category. What he's doing is truly above and beyond.”
With nearly 5,000 golf courses participating in Patriot Golf Day, Rooney is watching his foundation blossom and is hoping that through the efforts of many, the foundation will be able to help give families of fallen and disabled soldiers the help they need to further their education and better their lives.
“As incredibly successful as it has been, I truly believe we are on the edge of something that could really explode into something huge,” Rooney said.
In today's round, Lombardo hopes to complete up to 100 holes of golf. Along with Hogan, Lombardo is looking to raise money, as well as awareness for Patriot Golf Day.
“I wanted to contribute to the foundation when I heard what it was all about,” Lombardo said. “I decided I wanted to do a marathon and within a few weeks, we got it together. I was personally moved by Rooney's story and wanted the chance to give back to people in need.”
Lombardo and Dutch Hollow are accepting donations and pledges per hole, which will support the foundation, and have invited the public to come out, participate, and cheer on Lombardo and Hogan while they hit the links.
With a steady growth of support, Biata is hoping to see some of the Folds of Honor proceeds help central New York families. Currently, there have been about 300 families that have benefited from Patriot Golf Day proceeds over the past two years, but there's also been more than 10,000 requests. With so many in need, Biata is even more determined to earn as much as possible and hopefully enough to see some local heroes honored.
“When it's close to home, it's close to the heart,” Rooney said. “With 41 PGA sections, there are recipients in each section and we try to keep as much of the proceeds local.”
Always mindful of local heroes that touched his heart, Biata carries with him a picture of Pfc. Patrick Devoe II, a soldier from Port Byron who died in Afghanistan in March.
With the work of Rooney, Biata, Lombardo and all the other golfers and supporters, the Folds of Honor Foundation is already making a difference in the lives of many families that have lost so much.
Rooney knows that he was destined for this cause, and remains humbled and honored to be able to bring it as far as it's come.
“I believe that at every place in our lives, we are there for a reason,” Rooney said. “We just have to be open to find out why.”
To learn more...
For more information on the Folds of Honor Foundation, Patriot Golf Day and how to give support, visit FoldsofHonor.org or PatriotGolfDay.com. American Express will match all donations made on Labor Day.
“When I saw that family grieving, I knew that I wanted to help them,” Rooney said. “I didn't even know who the soldier was at the time or anything but I knew that I wanted to do something. Within a couple of days, I looked around and found the name of the soldier in a newspaper article and tucked it away. Within the next year I had begun the Folds of Honor Foundation and was able to reach out and get a scholarship to Cpl. Bucklin's 6-year-old son Jacob.”
What began as a quest to help one family became a mission to help many families in similar situations all over the country. Two years ago, Rooney began the foundation and instituted Patriot Golf Day, which is recognized by the PGA of America every Labor Day weekend. It is supported by golf courses and clubs all over the country in 41 PGA sections. Local courses Lakeview Golf and Country Club and Dutch Hollow Country Club are participating this year.
Over the weekend, the courses involved ask for a donation of one dollar added to each green fee. Those dollars go straight to the Folds of Honor Foundation, which has been able to give out more than 600 scholarships.
Tony Biata, PGA golf professional at Lakeview, and John Lombardo, the pro at Dutch Hollow, both decided to partake in golf marathons for Patriot Golf Day. Biata golfed his round on Aug. 31, while Lombardo is doing his today with friend Mike Hogan.
Biata said he started his round at 6:40 a.m. and finished at 8:20 p.m., playing 156 holes in the process.
And while Biata took Patriot Golf Day to a whole new level at Lakeview, he's tried to make it a season-long endeavor to raise money for Folds of Honor.
“When Rooney came to speak to us at our spring meeting, I was so moved by his story,” Biata said. “I decided that something needed to be done to help further this cause, so I decided to make it a whole season instead of one weekend. I thought if this foundation can earn as much as they do in one weekend, why not see what we can do all season.”
In addition to a donation jar in the pro shop, Biata has put together fundraising events like Couples Night at the golf course, he's sold hats and Lakeview has held raffles.
During his all-day golf marathon, Biata raised nearly $1,000, at the cost of some extra back pain, of course.
“I got tired after about 100 holes and thought to myself about the men and women who lost their lives or are completely disabled so that I can have the right to golf all day,” Biata said. “Freedom is not free and as long as we do things like this, give back what we can and realize what they have given for us, then they are not forgotten.”
Golfing until the sun went down, Biata said he felt like he was playing for each individual soldier who had given their lives in either Iraq or Afghanistan.
“I don't know what it was, adrenaline or souls helping me,” Biata said. “I don't know how I made it but I wasn't sore until I was done and I wasn't going to stop until I couldn't golf anymore. I owed it to all the people who gave their lives for my freedom.”
“Biata is truly a leader when it comes to what a golf course can do for Patriot Golf Day,” Rooney added. “Some of the greatest patriots I have known have never put on a uniform and he falls into that category. What he's doing is truly above and beyond.”
With nearly 5,000 golf courses participating in Patriot Golf Day, Rooney is watching his foundation blossom and is hoping that through the efforts of many, the foundation will be able to help give families of fallen and disabled soldiers the help they need to further their education and better their lives.
“As incredibly successful as it has been, I truly believe we are on the edge of something that could really explode into something huge,” Rooney said.
In today's round, Lombardo hopes to complete up to 100 holes of golf. Along with Hogan, Lombardo is looking to raise money, as well as awareness for Patriot Golf Day.
“I wanted to contribute to the foundation when I heard what it was all about,” Lombardo said. “I decided I wanted to do a marathon and within a few weeks, we got it together. I was personally moved by Rooney's story and wanted the chance to give back to people in need.”
Lombardo and Dutch Hollow are accepting donations and pledges per hole, which will support the foundation, and have invited the public to come out, participate, and cheer on Lombardo and Hogan while they hit the links.
With a steady growth of support, Biata is hoping to see some of the Folds of Honor proceeds help central New York families. Currently, there have been about 300 families that have benefited from Patriot Golf Day proceeds over the past two years, but there's also been more than 10,000 requests. With so many in need, Biata is even more determined to earn as much as possible and hopefully enough to see some local heroes honored.
“When it's close to home, it's close to the heart,” Rooney said. “With 41 PGA sections, there are recipients in each section and we try to keep as much of the proceeds local.”
Always mindful of local heroes that touched his heart, Biata carries with him a picture of Pfc. Patrick Devoe II, a soldier from Port Byron who died in Afghanistan in March.
With the work of Rooney, Biata, Lombardo and all the other golfers and supporters, the Folds of Honor Foundation is already making a difference in the lives of many families that have lost so much.
Rooney knows that he was destined for this cause, and remains humbled and honored to be able to bring it as far as it's come.
“I believe that at every place in our lives, we are there for a reason,” Rooney said. “We just have to be open to find out why.”
To learn more...
For more information on the Folds of Honor Foundation, Patriot Golf Day and how to give support, visit FoldsofHonor.org or PatriotGolfDay.com. American Express will match all donations made on Labor Day.
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