Honoring Veteran Legacies sets ‘Shotgun Salute’ on Sept. 15

ATHENS – A daylong gathering of amateur shooting and sounds of swing will distinguish the second annual “Shotgun Salute” clay shoot fundraiser, sponsored by Honoring Veteran Legacies.

The event on Sept. 15 will open at 2 p.m. at Old South Clays Farm, 27246 Wooley Springs Road in Athens. After the sporting clay shoot, guests will enjoy a barbecue dinner and the nostalgic music from Huntsville’s In the Mood Big Swing Band, starting their gig at 5:30 p.m.

The date of the Shotgun Salute coincides with National POW/MIA Recognition Day on Sept. 15, Elaine Oakes said. Oakes is Co-Founder and Vice President of Honoring Veteran Legacies.

The Shotgun Salute will have teams of four who can register together to shoot. Or, an individual can register and officials will place that person on a team with new friends.

Players can pre-register by Sept. 1. To register, visit eventbrite.com, and search for “2nd Annual Shotgun Salute”, or you can visit shotgunsalute-2023.eventbrite.com.

Team arrival time will be 1 p.m.

Guests can bid on merchandise in a silent auction.

“Players also can have a Station Sponsorship, which allows an individual to honor and remember a veteran (either known or not known) for only $200,” Oakes said.

The registration fee for all contestants includes the barbecue dinner. Doug Swaim is catering food.

Registration fee per team is $700; with a golf cart, the fee is $800. Players have the option to bring their own golf cart or walk the course.

Registration fee for an individual is $200. Fee for a companion who does not shoot is $25.

The top three teams will receive awards.

“Last year’s event raised nearly $7,500. We used those funds to return three World War II veterans to Normandy last June for the 79th anniversary of D-Day. In addition, we filmed and created lesson plans for teachers to use as a free resource in multiple subject areas,” Oakes said.

“That website should launch in September, so people can follow our social media channels for updates and view our website at honoringveteranlegacies.org for updates,” Oakes said.

“We’re very excited to hopefully see some of our local heroes’ stories used to teach lessons in English, math, physics, physical education, science and other subjects in this school year,” Oakes said.

Concerning National POW/MIA Recognition Day also on Sept. 15, the key phrase for this remembrance movement is, ‘You are not forgotten.’ This remembrance honors soldiers who were taken as prisoners of war and those still missing in action.

“Many American service members suffered as prisoners of war during varying conflicts. While some soldiers made it home to their families, many never did,” Oakes said.

Patriot Sponsors (as of Aug. 30) for the Shotgun Salute are Phil and Lisa Williams; First Bank; Signalink; Canvas; and Torch Technologies.

The Honoring Veteran Legacies organization strives to honor senior veterans in their communities and beyond and to guard and preserve their legacies for future generations.

For more information, visit honoringveteranlegacies.org.