Join the George Holm golf tournament
To the Editor:
Christmas time and the end of the year always make me think back to other Christmases and New Year's Days I have spent with family and friends. Some of the memories bring feelings of sadness along with happiness. Even if I had known how things would have turned out, I still would not have traded any of those holidays.
I remember George and some of his friends deciding on New Year's Eve 1987, that they would play golf the next day, Jan. 1, 1988. And so a tradition began. Of course, at that time the tournament was a "men's only" tournament. They did allow me to go out to the golf course and take a few pictures. For the next five years they golfed every New Year's Day, no matter what the weather was like.
In 1993, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, George was afflicted with an unknown illness that resulted in his death on Dec. 20. After his death, his friends decided they would like to continue the New Year's Day golf tradition in his memory. On Jan.1, 1994, the first George Holm Memorial Golf Tournament was held. That year approximately 60 golfers attended and made some great memories.
Every year on New Year's Day, George's friends and family continue the tradition with a round of golf, food at the American Legion, and drawings for prizes. All of the money raised goes to a scholarship for a Peabody-Burns High School senior at graduation in May.
George never knew a stranger and would willingly give his last dollar to someone else who may have needed it more. He always was willing to help out others in any way he could. He may not have been monetarily wealthy when he died, but he was wealthy in what mattered and that was in the many friendships he had. He would be humbled to know that people continue to remember him and that money is raised in his name every year to help a struggling college student.
This year, or actually Jan. 1, 2008, will be the 15th Annual George Holm Memorial Golf Tournament. So clean up your golf clubs, charge up your cart, and join us making new memories and reminiscing about memories of old. Some years we have golfed in our shorts and other years we've slid all over the course, even on our bellies across the ice covered ponds!
No matter what the weather, we have golfed in memory of our "Little Buddy." If you would like to join us in the tradition, arrive at the Peabody American Legion between 11 a.m. and noon on New Year's Day to sign up for a fun afternoon of golf. After you finish your nine holes of golf, come on back to the American Legion for a steaming hot bowl of chili, drawings for prizes, and the camaraderie of new friends and old.
See you there!
Alisa Holm-McDowell
Peabody
