CROMWELL -- Military members and veterans were front and center just of the 18th hole at the TPC River Highlands during the Travelers Championship on Friday.
For the seventh year in a row, the Patriots Outpost made it possible for servicemen and women to enjoy golf on the course -- free of charge -- and to come to the invitation-only tent to enjoy an array of amenities.
"It's a way to say thank you to the men and women in uniform," said tournament director Nathan Grube.
The Patriots Outpost, which was sponsored in part by Saint Francis Hospital, offered drinks, massages, acupuncture, and, this year, top notch barbecue.
Jamie McDonald, owner of Bear's Smokehouse and a Navy vet, made it a point to make sure the military men and women were taken care of. All week, Bear's provided a spread of their cuisine for veterans and their families to enjoy, free of charge.
"We've been blessed enough to be as successful as we are and to have the support we have been given and you should give it back," McDonald said.
Finishing his plate full of pulled pork and macaroni and cheese, Don Butler, an Air Force vet from Marlborough, said, "I appreciate what they are doing for the veterans and what they are doing for everyone here."
