Impact Player Partners is an organization specifically developed to raise funds to assist wounded men and women coming back from the Middle East. These courageous souls have been fighting the war on terror and need our help. Our 41st President, George Bush and his wife Barbara, served as the Honorary Chairpersons for the event. The founder of the organization Dick Lynch along with Event Chair Jim Hoelker and a host of others saw the vision of the problems facing the soldiers. They jumped in to do something about it. Through their efforts, incredible things have happened.

I ran into Rick Yarosh today. I hadn't seen him since our church honored him last year during a Fourth of July celebration. At the time he was trying to put his life back together after being injured in Iraq. It was September of 2006, in a town northwest of Baghdad, when the Bradley Fighting vehicle he was riding in ran over an improvised explosive device. He was burned over 60% of his body including burns to the face, hands, legs, arms and torso. His right leg was amputated below the knee and he has ringing in his ears 24/7. Rick has endured over 20 surgeries and will face more but in his own words he says, "I am a very proud individual with no regrets."

At the time we first met, Rick wanted to be a public speaker. His first address was to our congregation and I was moved to tears along with everyone attending to hear his story. I couldn't believe his growth in the last year. Today he stood confidently and spoke to all the golfers participating in the event. There was no "poor me" message, no, not with him. He understands was he was asked to do and went and did it with every fiber of his being. Now he lives with the consequences of what happened and doesn't want sympathy.

As I emceed the program today, I also was helped by Marine Corporal Casey Owens and Marine Sergeant James Eddie Wright. I hugged them for you and for me because of what they have done for us. They are missing arms and legs but they would go do it again if it meant all of us could be free. It's their mentality; it's what they are all about. They are part of the finest military on the planet and carry out the assignments 100%.

So a big thanks to Impact Player Partners for raising these funds. In 2007, 500 wounded heroes and their families were given assistance with over a half million dollars. After seeing what I saw this weekend in Houston, that many if not more will be helped. Jim Hoelker always says to me when talking about supporting these courageous souls, "If not us, then who!"

God Bless the men and women who serve The United States of America!