Desoto County News

Honor Our Troops Classic held in Olive Branch

Photo: Service flags welcomed golfers to the Olive Branch Country Club Friday, Sept. 22 for the eighth annual Honor Our Troops Golf Classic. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)

Golfers were playing Friday, Sept. 22 in the eighth annual Honor Our Troops Golf Classic at the Olive Branch Country Club, which is the state’s only Purple Heart golf course. The annual fundraiser benefits veterans in the Mid-South area, as we earlier reported on this website.

Photos here are from the opening ceremonies, which included a caravan of veterans escorted by law enforcement motorcycles, followed by the recession, presenting and raising of the American flag by an honor guard of the Olive Branch High School Marine JROTC, and the National Anthem.

Among the organizations that will benefit from the classic will be the Military Order of the Purple Heart, among others.   

“We support local veterans organizations, the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Patriot Guard Riders, the Military Order of the Purple Heart,” Bob Buntyn, committee president said. “This year, the lion’s share of the funds will go to the new Fisher House at the Memphis VA Hospital.”

Groundbreaking for the Memphis Fisher House was held in late July with plans to have it completed sometime next year.  The state-of-the-art facility will impact the lives of veterans and their families for years to come.

The home will consist of 16 suites, equipped with a private, handicapped- accessible bathroom. Common areas will include a spacious kitchen, large communal living, dining and family rooms, laundry room, and patio.

Bob Bakken

Bob Bakken is the most recognized and most trusted name in DeSoto County news and sports reporting, as readers continue to express their appreciation for his accuracy and fairness in the stories he writes. Bob is also heard on 95.3 The Rebel twice a week with sports updates and high school football play-by-play broadcasts in the fall. A former newspaper editor and writer, his award-winning background also includes television news producing, sports media relations, and radio broadcasting.

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