PGA Tour honors Luke Airmen

by Tech. Sgt. Meredith Mingledorff
944th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

11/8/2012 - LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz.  – The PGA Tour treated members of the 944th Fighter Wing to a special Military Appreciation Day at the Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Scottsdale, Ariz., Nov. 3-4.

Airmen from Luke AFB provided an honor guard, singer, guest speaker, and F-16 flyover for a crowd of more than 12,000 at the Desert Mountain Club.

Ian Knight, Executive Director, Charles Schwab Cup Championship opened Military Appreciation Day with kind words about the military and specifically thanked the U.S. Air Force for their attendance at the event. “The PGA Tour appreciates our U.S. military personnel and feel it is important to show our support for this heroic group,” he said .

Senior Airman Melinda Charlton, 944th Force Support Squadron, sang the national anthem as members of the Luke Honor Guard presented the colors.

“It was such an honor,” said Charlton. She was also impressed with the timing of the flyover by the 69th Fighter Squadron, who flew a two-ship formation over the 9th green.

“Their timing was perfect!” exclaimed the young singer.

“Perhaps we should have the U.S. Air Force run our golf tournaments,” joked Knight at the event. “Have you ever seen better timing?”

The crowd agreed with cheers of joy and support. “We never get to see that,” remarked an on-looker. “Wow!”

Col. Jose Monteagudo, 944th Fighter Wing commander, thanked the crowd for their support and the PGA Tour for their invitation to the tournament.

“The generosity of the PGA Tour, Charles Schwab, and Desert Mountain have shown to our uniformed members and their families with this Military Appreciation Day is overwhelming,” said Monteagudo.

“We thank you for this amazing opportunity,” remarked the colonel. “I encourage those of you in attendance today to speak with our men and women in uniform and find out what makes them so special. Serving can be hard to do, but it is support like this that reminds us what we are fighting for and makes it that much easier to fight the hard fight.”

Four military members chosen to announce PGA Tour professionals as they approached the 18th hole. One of them was Staff Sgt. Teresa Killeen, 944th Mission Support Group contracting specialist. Killeen said Freddie Couples is her favorite. ”I’ve been golfing for about a year now and I think Couples is great” said Killeen. She got to shake her golf idol’s hand on the 18th green after working a deal with fellow hole announcers so she could be the last one to pull the flag on the 18th green Sunday.

Killeen got a photo with Couples, and many others in uniform got handshakes and praise from Couples and other PGA pros who thanked them for their service.

“What an amazing day for our military personnel and the 944th Fighter Wing,” said Monteagudo. “I just wish we could have stayed longer.”