Free golf outing gives Oak Forest veterans taste of the ‘High Life’
By Hannah Kohut Correspondent September 7, 2011 11:06PM
Veterans enjoy some golf at the George Dunne National Golf Course in Oak Forest, IL on Wednesday September 7, 2011. The Oak Forest Veterans commission sponsored the event | Matt Marton~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: January 23, 2012 3:43AM
“Look around. What do you see? I see different veterans from different eras and different wars all playing golf together today, as brothers.”
That’s what Kevin Werner, of Hayes Beer Distributing Co., of Alsip, said one veteran told him on the green during the Oak Forest Veterans Commission golf outing on Wednesday. The George Dunne National Golf Course in Oak Forest was packed with veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan and others who have served dating back to World War II.
How this came to be is interesting.
It’s part of the Miller Brewing Co.’s “Give a veteran a piece of the high life” campaign, according to Craig Miller, of the Oak Forest Veterans Commission.
Miller said Werner approached Miller about its “save your caps” program, in which the company donates money based on the amount of beer bottle caps and pull tabs people send in. Miller donated $5,000, and Hayes Brewing matched it.
“I wanted to give locals the ‘high life experience,’ but I had no idea how to do it,” Werner said.
So he hit up Oak Forest Mayor Hank Kuspa.
“He told me ‘one, let’s do this, and two, it has to be in my town, because this is just too cool,’ ” Werner said.
The event gave to 144 veterans a day of free golf, lunch, steak and prizes.
“It’s been great and for a great cause,” said Rhonda Ceska, who helped prepare the event. “We got donations from many businesses and individuals who wanted to express their gratitude to the vets.”
Navy veteran Peter Chrzanowski, 89, of Alsip, said the outing was “the best day I’ve had in a long time.”
“I wish more people would come out and enjoy these festivities and donate to the veterans,” said Chrzanowski, who said he served in the Pacific from 1942 to 1947. “They need this, they deserve it, especially for the little pay they get.”
Former Marine Cpl. John Jans, 25, of Oak Forest, said he doesn’t play golf but came out or the fun.
“I’m what you call ‘terrible’ when it comes to golf,” Jans joked. “But this is a great thing, I’m glad I came out.”
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