Wednesday Is for Warriors

Staff Sgt. Michael Cain (second from left) and Specialist Johnnie Gardner (far right) joined Fred Seabright, Cybex Director of Government Sales (far left), trainer Kent Biggerstaff (third from left), Adrienne Trout, USO-Metro vice president development and communication (third from right), and John Cook in the DePuy Mitek fitness trailer.
PGA TOUR

October 7, 2010

By PGA TOUR Staff

BETHESDA, Md.—The much-anticipated arrival of the Champions Tour at TPC Potomac gave both players and their families the opportunity to honor some true heroes, U.S. military members at the Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship pro-am.

The festivities began with the PGA TOUR hosting Operation Shower, a baby shower for expectant mothers who are currently active-duty military or whose husbands serve in the military. A group of 40 expectant mothers were honored at Walter Reed Army Medical Center during this special event. Birdies for the Brave, a military outreach initiative supported by the PGA TOUR, March of Dimes, Kmart and Constellation Energy, made the shower possible.

These expectant mothers enjoyed a baby shower full of gifts, food, laughs and friendship, and nobody left empty-handed. Not only did each mom receive a package with dozens of items inside, but they also left with car seats, cribs and diapers. On hand to help were Molly Shattuck, wife of Constellation Energy CEO Mayo Shattuck, and other wives from Constellation Energy, several Champions Tour players’ wives, as well as senior military leadership, including General Craig McKinley and his wife.

Following the shower, Champions Tour President Mike Stevens joined Champions Tour player Tom Purtzer, as they went room to room at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, greeting the troops and boosting their spirits. 
Finally, two wounded warriors, Staff Sgt. Michael Cain, and Specialist Johnnie Gardner of the U.S. Army joined Champions Tour player John Cook for a workout on CYBEX equipment in the DePuy Mitek Mobile Fitness Trailer.

Cain and Gardner asked questions about their rehab and found out what players like Cook go through prior to getting out on the golf course.

It was an emotional and uplifting day at both the golf course and the hospital, one of the many activities dedicated to the military at the Champions Tour’s final major championship of the season.