[vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Last fall Cabot hosted a sporting clay tournament to benefit the Scranton School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. The tournament was so much fun that Cabot followed up with another in March to raise money for True Friends Animal Welfare Center and Make-a-Wish Foundation. Present at both events was Mindy Picotti, founder of Hunts for Healing, a not-for-profit, empowering wounded soldiers through outdoor recreation hunting and fishing programs.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Mindy was blown away by the profound generosity displayed by Cabot and its contractors; she asked Cabot to help her host a tournament to benefit Hunts for Healing. Given our respect for veterans we agreed to help Mindy on one condition: the tournament also had to benefit the PA Veteran’s Foundation and General Michael Gould.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Last November, Cabot participated in “A Salute to Veterans” at the Gino Merli Veterans’ Center in Scranton. The event began by honoring our nation’s heroes and concluding with an education session that informed our veterans about career opportunities, medical and social services available to them.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]During the event, George Stark presented General Gould a check to “continue the hard work he has undertaken to support veterans after the government support had run out.” Since then, Cabot and General Gould have stayed in touch, looking for opportunities to work together again.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]With Hunts for Healing already working with Gen. Gould and the PA Veterans Foundation, Mindy enthusiastically agreed. On June 14th the first annual “Old Glory” sporting clay tournament was held at Rock Mt. Sporting Clays in Springville PA. The clay shoot brought in over $32,000 for the organizations.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” interval=”5″ images=”4414,4415,4416″ custom_links_target=”_self” img_size=”thumbnail”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]June 14th, is Flag Day, a holiday that is meant to commemorate the adoption of the United States flag in 1777. For members of the military, the flag symbolizes the freedom and democracy they are sworn to protect and serve. Hence the tournament name “Old Glory.”
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]In total 29 teams participated in the tournament, roughly 110 shooters. Both Beretta and Top Calls were in attendance setting up product displays and donating auction items.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Alan Probst (All Outdoors) participated in the tournament and afterwards interacted with the crowd, and signed autographs for veterans. Alan has worked with Hunts for Healing in the past, hosting guided hunts for disabled and wounded veterans.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Following lunch, Gen. Gould addressed the crowd with an emotional speech before hosting a very informative but somber flag ceremony. Immediately following the flag folding ceremony, a poem was read entitled I Am Old Glory:
For more than ten score years I have been the banner of hope and freedom for generation after generation of Americans.
Born amid the first flames of America’s fight for freedom, I am the symbol of a country that has grown from a little group of thirteen colonies to a united nation of fifty sovereign states.
Planted firmly on the high pinnacle of American Faith my gently fluttering folds have proved an inspiration to untold millions.
Men have followed me into battle with unwavering courage.
They have looked upon me as a symbol of national unity.
They have prayed that they and their fellow citizens might continue to enjoy the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, which have been granted to every American as the heritage of free men.
So long as men love liberty more than life itself; so long as they treasure the priceless privileges bought with the blood of our forefathers; so long as the principles of truth, justice and charity for all remain deeply rooted in human hearts, I shall continue to be the enduring banner of the United States of America.
State Senator Lisa Baker (Chair, Senate Veteran Affairs Committee) was also in attendance and spoke during lunch, praising Gen. Gould and Mindy for their hard work.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]To Donate to Hunts for Healing click here
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]To Donate to Pennsylvania Veterans Foundation click here
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]To learn more about properly folding the American flag check out this video: http://youtu.be/cPbpxP7Ucow.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
