VFW Post 10721 in Minturn, Colorado for over 20 years raised money for six local high school and follow-on college
scholarships at a Rummage sale that was suddenly stopped when the local school Board condemned the building.
To answer the call, Post members in May 2018 voted to host the 911 “Never Forget” Inaugural Memorial Golf Tournament
at the local EagleVail Golf Course. The tournament was organized by Moses Gonzales and Buddy Sims to host
120 golfers (30 teams), to have a 911 Memorial Ceremony at 8:00 am, and followed by a scramble golf start at 8:30 am.
To our benefit members and supporters knocked on doors and asked for donations resulting in local corporations
donating the lunch menu made up of salads, beans, fries, steaks, and Coors beer (Coors beer of course came from
Golden, CO). The golf tournament sold out four weeks before 911.
Execution of the 911 event, like a full military OPS plan, was conducted with perfect Colorado weather and included
EMS vehicles in the background with flashing lights,
Post and EMS Color Guard in action, local musician Tony Gulizia singing the National Anthem, Post Commander
CPO (Ret.) Al Zepeda, USN speaking on 911, and local Oktoberfest Band Star Helmut Fricker blasting out the start of
golf with his Alpine Horn and hand-held organ music. 300 American Flags were placed on fairway four to remember those
post on 911.
To end the event, a silent auction was held and alone raised over $10,000 with donated items from 35 local
businesses. The results of this Post effort brought the community together for an emotional 911 “Never Forget”
Memorial Remembrance and also will allow our scholarship grants to go from $2,500 to $5,000 per student for college.
Many thanks go out to our local Sponsors, Donors, and volunteer workers who all helped us earn scholarship monies.
Based on our first golf success in the Vail Valley, arrangements have been made to host the “soon to be annual” 911
Golf Tournament in 2019.
Links to additional news coverage:
Vail Daily Newspaper
Eagle County TV Coverage
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