Disc golfers from across Kansas enjoyed a fun day playing the Ellsworth, Kan., Oak Ridge disc golf course while raising money for a good cause at the Sixth Annual “Throw for the Soul” Disc Golf Tournament. The tournament was held on Saturday, Oct. 17, at the course in Krizek Park.
Participants ranging in age from 13 to 70 participated. Golfers were based on their age, gender and disc golf experience. Awards were given out in 11 different flights. Each year the organizers have chosen a local Ellsworth charity as the beneficiary of the event. This year Ellsworth Legion Riders Post 174 was chosen, and the event raised $7,152.20 for Post 174. “Disc golf is a fun and simple way to enjoy a lifelong low-impact sport, and when we can combine it with raising funds for a worthy cause it is a win-win,” said Dave Cox, tournament director.
Ellsworth Legion Riders Post 174 is an organized group of American Legion, Sons and Auxiliary members who are motorcycle enthusiasts. They are sponsored, affiliated wit and supported by Ellsworth American Legion Post #174 in Ellsworth. The main goal and purpose of the Riders post is helping fellow veterans in need, and supporting and helping their community in any way they can. One of the important and visually moving things they do is show up in full force at veterans' funerals when requested by the family. They park their motorcycles lined up in front of the place of the funeral service. Each motorcycle has a 3 ft. X 5 ft. American flag flying from the back of it, and after the funeral service they ride slowly in front of the hearse and veteran's family and escort them with honor to the cemetery and place of burial, where they stand at attention and sometimes even participate in the rifle squad giving the 21-gun salute. The Riders post also decorates the funeral home yard and cemetery with a dozen or more American flags flying from 10 ft. poles in honor of the fallen veteran. "Post 174 is very proud of our Riders," said post Vice Commander Jason R. Hicks.
Other duties of the Riders post are participating in local parades, and assisting in any way they can veterans or any citizen needing help. They also financially support the Kansas Honor Flight program by having aluminum-can and used-battery donation drop-off sites at the Ellsworth American Legion building's parking lot.
