Meadowlands CC Hosts Armed Forces Appreciation Day

returning veterans from the Afghanistan and Iraq campaigns, they knew they could count on the local business community to support the event. But they never anticipated the deluge of calls they received from businesses.

"We literally had to say thanks but no thanks after a while," reports Meadowlands secretary Gil Benjamin, who also served as co-chairman of the event. "We didn't need anything else and people kept calling and wanting to help.

In an effort to say thank-you to the men and women who have served and continued to serve in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, Meadowlands members will host Armed Forces Appreciation Day on Monday, June 18.

The entire Meadowlands facility in Blue Bell, Pa., will be opened to returning veterans of those campaigns. The effort was coordinated by invitation-only through the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove. The first slots went to those who have recently returned.

"This is something we have wanted to do for more than a year," said Richard Ochroch, golf chairman and one of the driving forces behind putting the effort together at Meadowlands. "We owe such a huge debt of gratitude to our troops, who are willing to give their lives in order to preserve our freedom. This is the least we can do to show how much we appreciate their efforts."

Area businesses that have contributed to the day include: U.S. Foods, J. Ambrogi Produce, Stanley Marvel, Jeff Soloman Bread, Bassets Ice Cream, R.L. Schreiber, Prestige Paper, Yuengling Brewery, Facenda-Whitaker Lanes, Widget Promotions, Callaway Golf, WNTP 990-AM and Ellis Coffee.

A national company, the Player's Pass, donated an annual membership to each player in the event. The Player's Pass provides discounted golf at more than 2,400 golf courses across the country.

"We happened to be in the area working on another project and heard about Armed Forces Appreciation Day," explained Andy Mears, president of the Arizona-based Player's Pass. "We called the organizers and asked how we could get involved. I can't think of a better way to reward our men and women for their service to our country than to help them enjoy the game of golf during their down time at home."

For more information about Armed Forces Appreciation Day, call TL Golf Services at 610/279-9220 or Meadowlands' pro shop at 215/646-5833.