The Staff Sgt. Eric Summers Play for Honor Memorial is nearly full.
The annual golf tournament at Ozark Ridge Golf Course, held during the first Saturday every June, has seen increased interest this summer. About 50 teams have signed up for the two-person scramble event. Darren Summers, the younger brother of Eric Summers, said only a few spots are left.
“We have a good turnout every year,” Darren Summers said. “We’ve got room for a few more teams, but it’s going good.”
Proceeds from the tournament help local charities, focusing on veteran-related causes and maintaining the Eric Summers memorial at Ozark Ridge Golf Course.
Now in its eighth year, the tournament has made possible contributions to the Veterans Memorial Wall, Wall of Valor, Homeless Veterans & Assistance Program, EOD Warrior Foundation and more.
“We always do it the first Saturday of June because it falls right around Memorial Day and his birthday,” Darren Summers said.
Eric Summers (1981-2013) completed his marine combat training in 2000 and initially served as a ground radio repairman in Okinawa, Japan. Over the next few years, he reached the rank of sergeant before being deployed to Iraq in 2003.
He was promoted to staff sergeant in 2005 and later completed two deployments to the Helmand Province in Afghanistan from 2009-10 and in 2011.
He received the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars in lieu of third award with Valor Device, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various other campaign medals and decorations.