• PGA Tour • Fred Couples • 944th Fighter Wing • Flyover • Col. Jose Monteagudo
Photos
Thousands of on-lookers were amazed by Team Luke's impressive F-16 flyover Saturday morning. The 69th Fighter Squadron's display was part of the opening ceremony at Military Appreciation Day of the Charles Schwab Cup Championship at Desert Mountain Club in Scottsdale, Ariz. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Josh Nason)
Senior Airman Melinda Charlton and the Luke Air Force Base Honor Guard open up Military Appreciation Day with the Star Spangled Banner and presentation of the Colors for the Charles Schwab Cup Championship Saturday, Nov. 3rd in Scottsdale, Ariz. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Josh Nason)
Golf professional, Fred Couples closed the Charles Schwab Cup Championship with one of his biggest fans, Staff Sgt. Teresa Killeen, Contracting Specialist, 944th Fighter Wing, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Meredith Mingledorff)
Olin Browne shakes Capt. Derrick Young's hand in appreciation for his military service during the Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Scottsdale, Ariz. Nov 4. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Meredith Mingledorff)
Capt. Derrick Young, Operations Officer, 944th Force Support Squadron, watches at the 18th hole as professionals finish the Cochise Geronimo Course at Desert Mountain in Scottsdale, Ariz. Nov. 4. Young served as an announcer for the hole during Military Appreciation at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Meredith Mingledorff)
Staff Sgt. Teresa Killeen, Contracting Specialist, 944th Mission Support Group, at the 18th hole on Desert Mountain's Cochise Geronimo Course for Military Appreciation Day at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship Nov. 4. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Meredith Mingledorff)
"Thank you for your service," says golf pro Michael Allen to Major William McGarry, Bioenvironmental Equipment Engineer, 944th Aeromedical Staging Squadron during the last day of the Charles Schwab Cup Championship at Desert Mountain Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., Saturday. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Meredith Mingledorff)
by Tech. Sgt. Meredith Mingledorff
944th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
11/8/2012 - LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- The PGA Tour treated members of the 944th Fighter Wing to a special Military Appreciation Day at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Scottsdale, Ariz., Nov. 3-4.
Airmen from Luke AFB provided an honor guard, singer, guest speaker, and F-16 flyover for a crowd of more than 12,000 at the Desert Mountain Club.
Ian Knight, Executive Director, Charles Schwab Cup Championship opened Military Appreciation Day with kind words about the military and specifically thanked the U.S. Air Force for their attendance at the event. "The PGA Tour appreciates our U.S. military personnel and feel it is important to show our support for this heroic group," he said .
Senior Airman Melinda Charlton, 944th Force Support Squadron, sang the national anthem as members of the Luke Honor Guard presented the colors.
"It was such an honor," said Charlton. She was also impressed with the timing of the flyover by the 69th Fighter Squadron, who flew a two-ship formation over the 9th green.
"Their timing was perfect!" exclaimed the young singer.
"Perhaps we should have the U.S. Air Force run our golf tournaments," joked Knight at the event. "Have you ever seen better timing?"
The crowd agreed with cheers of joy and support. "We never get to see that," remarked an on-looker. "Wow!"
Col. Jose Monteagudo, 944th Fighter Wing commander, thanked the crowd for their support and the PGA Tour for their invitation to the tournament.
"The generosity of the PGA Tour, Charles Schwab, and Desert Mountain have shown to our uniformed members and their families with this Military Appreciation Day is overwhelming," said Monteagudo.
"We thank you for this amazing opportunity," remarked the colonel. "I encourage those of you in attendance today to speak with our men and women in uniform and find out what makes them so special. Serving can be hard to do, but it is support like this that reminds us what we are fighting for and makes it that much easier to fight the hard fight."
Four military members chosen to announce PGA Tour professionals as they approached the 18th hole. One of them was Staff Sgt. Teresa Killeen, 944th Mission Support Group contracting specialist. Killeen said Freddie Couples is her favorite. "I've been golfing for about a year now and I think Couples is great" said Killeen. She got to shake her golf idol's hand on the 18th green after working a deal with fellow hole announcers so she could be the last one to pull the flag on the 18th green Sunday.
Killeen got a photo with Couples, and many others in uniform got handshakes and praise from Couples and other PGA pros who thanked them for their service.
"What an amazing day for our military personnel and the 944th Fighter Wing," said Monteagudo. "I just wish we could have stayed longer."
Military members can keep an eye out for future opportunities with the PGA Tour on Birdies for the Brave at www.birdiesforthebrave.com.
