Army Capt. Bobby Withers looked over the long line of golf carts, stuffed with people who came to the Homes For Our Troops benefit golf tournament at the Rosedale Golf and Country Club on Saturday, Jan. 30.
Simply put, he could feel the love.
Withers lost his right leg and much of his left leg when he stepped on a land mine during an enemy attack at Bagram Airbase on May 29, 2010.
"It's easy to come home and feel forgotten," said Withers, who was presented a new home in Winter Garden last November by Homes For Our Troops. "Today reminds you what you went over there for. It's incredible. Your time is your most valuable resource and it is something you can't get back. These folks could be doing anything else today.
"It is fantastic that a community like this has our back."
Tournament volunteer Bill Kennedy noted, "It works both ways."
Indeed, tournament director Kathi Skelton noted that the 132 tournament spots sold out in four days. "It's wonderful that the community has embraced this event," she said.
Along with Withers, Marine Corp. Josh Langston-White, of Crystal River, and Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Gordon, of Clermont, also played in the tournament and have been qualified in the program to receive new homes. Lanston-White lost both of his legs above the knee in Afghanistan and Gordon lost his right leg when a roadside bomb hit his vehicle in Iraq.
The Homes For Our Troops mission is "to build mortgage-free, specially adapted homes nationwide for severely injured veterans post-9/11, to enable them to rebuild their lives."
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Army Capt. Bobby Withers tees off in the Homes For Our Troops golf tournament on Saturday, Jan. 30 at Rosedale Golf and Country Club. Captain Withers lost his right leg in an anti-personnel mine explosion on his third deployment to Afghanistan.
Army Capt. Bobby Withers enjoys the moment after connecting solidly on the first tee.
Sarasota's Pat Hogan and Dan Smith, Tim McHale and Chris Mitchell of Homes For Our Troops and Army Capt. Bobby Withers, played in a foursome of the benefit tournament.
Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Gordon gets some encouraging words from Marine Corp. Josh Langston-White before teeing off at Rosedale Golf and Country Club.
Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Gordon puts the ball on track at the first green in the Homes For Our Troops golf tournament at Rosedale Golf and Country Club.
Marine Corp. Josh Langston-White tries to sink a long putt during the Homes For Our Troops benefit at Rosedale Golf and Country Club.
Marine Corp. Josh Langston-White and Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Gordon talk about the Homes For Our Troops benefit before teeing off.
Judy Cline, Jeannette Anderson and Joyce Matthews, all of Rosedale, check in golfers at the Homes For Our Troops benefit at Rosedale Golf and Country Club.
Sage Hagelberg, Coral LeBon, Jada Banks and Hope Tudor, all of Girl Scouts Troop 180 out of Braden River Elementary School, handed out snack boxes before the tournament.
Diane Hennessey, the leader of Girl Scouts Troop 180 out of Braden River Elementary School, attaches one of the patriotic pins made by the troop on Lt. Col. Steve Skelton, who was volunteering at the tournament.
The veterans listen to comments made before the benefit tournament.
Golfers pause to honor America before the Homes For Our Troops benefit golf tournament at Rosedale Golf and Country Club.
Jerry and Nancy Foley of Rosedale showed their patriotism before playing in the Homes For Our Troops benefit golf tournament.
Rosedale's Gary Cole decorated his golf cart and ran a shuttle during the Homes For Our Troops benefit at Rosedale Golf and Country Club.
Sarasota's Ted Smith, Marine Corp. Josh Langston-White, Rosedale Golf and Country Club Clubhouse Manager Kevin Conway and Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Gordon played in a foursome together.
