Patriot Golf Day For The Children: The Folds of Honor Foundation
Today, I am asking all of my friends at Linkfest Haven DeLuxe,to help me spread the word about the The Folds of Honor Foundation. Although I don’t share much of my personal life with you, I felt that this is an instance when it is necessary. One of our local news stations broadcast the story (video here) of how The Folds Of Honor Foundation came to be.
Brock Bucklin, an Army specialist, was killed May 31, 2006 in Iraq.
Through my parents, I met Brock’s parents, Duane and Dawn Bucklin. When told by Duane about The Folds of Honor Foundation, I walked away inspired. His son’s death inspired an act of kindness committed by all who donate to this very worth cause!
Here is the story:
A foundation hopes to turn tragedy around by helping families of men and women fighting for our freedom who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
It began with the death of 28-year-old Brock Bucklin, an Army specialist from Caledonia. He was killed May 31, 2006 in Iraq when fellow soldiers were lifting heavy equipment and a hoist broke.
His sacrifice was etched on the hearts of the passengers on the flight that returned his body home.
When the plane landed, Bucklin’s 4-year-old son, Jacob, rushed to the casket carrying his hero’s body. That image stuck with Capt. Dan Rooney who was on that flight and has been on several tours in the Middle East.
“I was on a United Airlines flight, 664. You don’t remember the numbers of many flights in your life, but this was a night that my life changed,” Rooney told 24 Hour News 8. “For me, being an F-16 pilot, I’ve seen combat, I’ve seen death and destruction in Iraq. But I’d never seen that side of it. And having three daughters of my own, it was something that really struck me.”
Rooney decided to combine his two passions - patriotism and golf - and started the Folds of Honor Foundation, a scholarship to help pay for school for some of the 187,000 dependents left behind by war.
Jacob, whose young face that got Rooney’s wheels turning, is fittingly the first recipient.
“I cannot imagine that there’s anything else that could be any more worthwhile,” said Duan Bucklin, Brock’s father. “In the fact that I think my son couldn’t be more happy than to have his death inspire the foundation.”
The Folds of Honor hosts Patriot Golf Day during the Labor Day weekend. The annual event raised $8,000. Last year it expanded, about 3,400 golf courses around the country, charging an extra dollar for green fees or asking for donations. The total swelled to about $1.1 million.
They are hoping to raise more during this year’s event.
“This small seed that started right here in West Michigan, in Grand Haven of all places, that has gone across this country,” said Rooney.
A statue of Jacob’s father stands in Veterans Memorial Park in Grand Rapids. The boy and Rooney posed Wednesday afternoon during a photo-shoot with People Magazine. The magazine highlighting them is expected to hit the stands in early August.
“He’s our son. That’s the extension of our son. So if we can’t have our son, Jacob is what we have,” said Duan Bucklin.
“I think Brock would be really happy and very happy and I think he’d be very proud of who Jacob is and what he’s becoming,” said Jacob’s mom, Michelle Price.
I realize that in these trying times, and that people are making sacrifices, but these men and women paid the ultimate sacrifice for all of us. Please find it in your hearts to make a tax deductible donation to Folds of Honor Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, it would be appreciated. Not only for Jacob Bucklin, but for the 187,000 dependents left behind by war.
Godspeed to Brock’s twin brother Brad. Brad will be deployed to Iraq in the coming months.
Trackposted to Nuke’s, Diary of the Mad Pigeon, Political Byline, third world county, A Newt One- Congressman Frank Wolf!, Right Truth, Shadowscope, The Pink Flamingo, Leaning Straight Up, Cao’s Blog, , Dumb Ox Daily News, and Conservative Cat, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.
Trackposted to Pirate’s Cove, Blog @ MoreWhat.com, The Amboy Times, Rosemary’s Thoughts, McCain Blogs, and Woman Honor Thyself, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.
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