Area veteran supporters recently came together for a successful golf tournament to benefit the Tennessee Veterans Business Association and its veteran events, including the annual TVBA veteran job fair, veteran networking opportunities and more.
The Second Annual Tennessee Veterans Business Association Golf Tournament sold out this year, and TVBA plans to make the tournament bigger than ever for next year.
“East Tennessee is a big supporter of local veterans. As an association solely dedicated to improving veteran’s lives, we are grateful for the community’s support in our mission,” TVBA Program Ambassador Steve Stilts said. “The annual golf tournament is a great way to show that support while they enjoy a game of golf.”
Retired U.S. Air Force Capt. William A. “Bill” Robinson spoke to the crowd about his experience in Vietnam and encouraged the community to show support to the military men and women who have risked everything to gain freedom for the American people.
Robinson was the longest held enlisted prisoner of war in American history – enduring seven and a half years or 2,703 days in multiple North Vietnamese prison camps.
“We saw the ups and downs – tortured for no reason at all other than for propaganda,” Robinson said.
“We ate early in the morning and late in the afternoon. I joke to say that we ate oriental style. Somebody would say, ‘What’s that?’ I’d say, ‘That’s a bowl of rice for breakfast, a glass of water for lunch’ … and we got somewhere between 100 to 115 different varieties of what they call vegetables. We call it weeds or any other appropriate name at the time,” Robinson said. “We got two special meals a year – Christmas and New Year’s. Those meals consisted of a simple thing like a cup of coffee or piece of sweet bread or piece of fruit.”
Robinson expressed gratitude for the nation’s service men and women who gave their all for freedom as Americans enjoy it today.
“Fast forward to my generation we have a wall with over 58,000 names of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms that we enjoy today,” he said.
Blount County music teacher James Gann Jr. gave a moving performance singing the national anthem for players gathered around the Green Meadow flag pole to kick off the event’s festivities.
TVBA would like to thank its 2018 golf sponsors:
John H Coleman
The Daily Times
Rep. Andrew Farmer
Seymour Chiropractor
Castone
Flowers Bakery
McGaha Electric
Don Fillers Cont
Flying Locksmith
Signco
R3 Pressure Washing
StrataG
Vanquish Worldwide
Golden SVCS
Green Meadow Wine & Spirits
@ Home Audio Video
Duke 95.7
B97.5
WIMZ 103.5
Trojan Labor
Knoxville Metro Airport
Steel Fab
Joe Hall
Broadway Barber Shop
Accord Federal Services
Edison Electric
Waterfront Bar & Grill
Beef Jerky Store
Golf Ball Factory Outlet
Southpoint Risk Advisors
CPR Cell Phone Repair
Royal Brass & Hose
Balls Sherbakoff Financial
Pilot Flying J
Stowers Machinery