Bipartisanship On The Green To Benefit Wounded Warriors

The U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress' annual bipartisan "Congressional Charity Golf Classic" will pair current and former Members of Congress together with wounded warriors in the spirit of service.

WASHINGTON, July 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For Major Justin Constantine, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, the sport of golf literally helped save his life. After being shot in Iraq while on patrol in 2006, he suffered severe facial damage, a visual impairment, and a traumatic brain injury. After receiving a Purple Heart, Constantine began to play golf as part of the Disabled Sports USA Warfighter Sports program. As a result of his involvement with the sport, he is now "back in the fight," working as part of a counterterrorism team with the Department of Justice, giving motivational speeches, and participating in numerous regional golf events.

When presented with the opportunity to recognize our nation's Warfighters, Republicans' and Democrats' very quickly shed their partisan differences. Supporting our nation's wounded warriors comes naturally to the 600 former Members of Congress who belong to the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress (FMC), as they donate their time and experience—pro bono—to reach out to others in the U.S. and around the world via a variety of service-minded programs. And, while politicians may not enjoy the best reputation, these former Senators and Representatives' volunteer outreach efforts have helped raise more than $250,000 for the Warfighter Sports program, enabling our military's heroes to heal their minds and bodies through sports.

WHERE/WHEN: On Monday, July 23, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Army Navy Club, 1700 Army Navy Drive, Arlington Virginia, Constantine and more than 22 other wounded warriors will team up with 50 former and current Members of Congress who belong to the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress (FMC) to participate in the fifth annual "Congressional Charity Golf Classic," which raises funds for service members suffering from wounds both seen and unseen.

WHO: Many current and Former Members of Congress are available for interviews including: FMC tournament co-chairman, Dennis Hertel (D-MI); and others. Wounded warriors will also be available including Major Constantine; Staff Sergeant Charles Eggleston, U.S. Army Retired, who sustained permanent head and back injuries from multiple IED blasts in Iraq; Staff Sergeant Tanner Kuth, U.S. Army active duty who had a below the knee amputation of his left leg and partial vision loss in his right eye after stepping on an IED in Afghanistan in 2009; and Sergeant Dewitt Osbourne lll, U.S. Army Retired who sustained a spinal cord injury and shoulder and foot wounds after being injured in Iraq in 2006.

Coverage is invited. Interviews with current and former Members of Congress and wounded warriors are available.

About Warfighter Sports
Warfighter Sports, a program of Disabled Sports USA, offers sports rehabilitation for severely wounded warriors in military hospitals and communities across the U.S. through a nationwide network of over 100 community-based chapters.  Since 1967, Disabled Sports USA has proudly served wounded warriors, including those injured in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, offering over 30 winter and summer sports at more than 100 events each year.  Warfighter Sports rebuilds lives through sports by improving self-confidence, promoting independence and uniting families through shared healthy activities.  Contributions cover all expenses for participation, including individualized adaptive instruction, adaptive sports equipment, transportation, lodging and meals for the warrior and a family member.  Since 2003, more than 5,600 of the most severely wounded and their families have been served, including those with amputations, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, visual impairments, and significant nerve and muscle damage.   For more information, visit www.warfightersports.org or www.dsusa.org.    

Through early intervention with active sports, rehabilitation is enhanced and leads to improved health, happiness, and successful employment. To this end, the wounded warriors and their families are provided with opportunities to pursue more than 30 different sports, free of cost—including transportation, lodging, adaptive equipment, and individualized instruction. To date, FMC has raised more than $250,000—not including the $75,000 raised so far in 2012—from the charity golf tournament to support this worthy endeavor.

About FMC:  The mission of FMC is to promote public service and strengthen democracy via domestic and international programs. FMC seeks to improve the public's understanding of the role of Congress as a unique institution, as well as the crucial importance of representative democracy as a system of government. Former Members of Congress participate in many diverse pro- bono projects, such as election monitoring abroad, outreach to high school and university students to encourage public service, and supporting programs that provide services to severely wounded veterans upon their return from Iraq and Afghanistan. 

SOURCE U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress