Lieutenant Colonel Dan Rooney believes in the concept of life he called the echo of God.
It’s an idea that explains why he tees off Friday thanks to a sponsorship exemption at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club in Grand Brands Township, Michigan, just south of Flint.
“Just being in the ropes is what makes your childhood dream come true,” he said Thursday. “I love this concept of life called The Devion Echo. Our lives appear based on what you put into the world. We have helped a family of 74,000 people achieve their dreams in the fold of honor. This week, God’s dreams, God gave me dreams, can compete with my golf hero, my golfing hero, and we can see it and go see it.”
Rooney founded Honor of Honor, a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation that offers scholarships to spouses and children of people with murder or disabled in combat. He defeated one golfer on the field of 78 and was 16 strokes from the pace set by defending champion Stewartsink. A year ago, Rooney played with World Golf Hall of Fame member Ernie Elles at the tournament’s Pro Am, making eight birdies. Els then tells him he should consider playing in the locker room.
“It was the kind of thing that started discussions like that that was once a lifetime opportunity,” recalls Rooney.
PGA expert Rooney got the opportunity to live his dream this week, but his bigger objective came on Friday, bringing an initiative that his nonprofit began in tournaments around the country a year and a half ago on the PGA Tour.
“Golf is the only major sport that has not observed the national anthem, and it is about 50% of events on all three tours, including the PGA Tour, the Champions Tour and the Corn Ferry Tour, to ensure that the national anthem can now be brought in,” he said Thursday. “We ask fans to wear red, white and blue. Players will be celebrating everyone who serves, wearing red, white and blue on Friday.”
Almost 20 years ago, Rooney was on a United Flight 644 from Chicago to Grand Rapids, Michigan. His flight was already late and passengers were restless to disappear. When they got into a taxi at the gate, the captain’s voice came to the public address: “Women and gentlemen, we have an American hero with us tonight.”
He paused and Rooney recalls the Dress Greens soldier sitting in first class.
“We are carrying the remains of Army Cpl. Brock Bucklin. His twin brother, Cplad. BradBucklin brought him home from Iraq,” Rooney thought the captain said. “As a sign of respect, Cpl. Stay seated while you respect Bucklin and his sacrifice.”
Rooney previously served as a fighter pilot for the film “Caddy Shack.” He dreamed of flying the F-16 after watching another film, Top Gun, and meeting members of the Oklahoma Air National Guard at a golf tournament at the age of 12.
From Seat 24A, Rooney recorded three missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, with the final return of the 28-year-old Corp Head looking through the window. The brothers had an agreement that if something happened to one of them, the other would carry the ffin from the plane. That night, Tarmac had Bucklyn’s grieving family, including his grandmother’s embrace, his then four-year-old son, Jacob.
What Rooney witnessed shook him. Another perception was: half of the passengers left the plane anyway. Anger he had never experienced before grew within him. Freedom is not freedom, and that night, Rooney vowed to do something to help the Bucklyn family and others like them.
“The only thing I knew at that point was how to run a small golf tournament,” he said.
A few months later, Rooney planned a fallen Heroes Golf Tournament in West Michigan, with proceeds allocated to Michigan families who lost their parents in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sixty-eight golfers appeared. They raised over $8,000.
“It was a drop in a bucket,” Rooney said.
Fast Forward and Folds of Honor recently awarded 12,000 scholarships in the fall. An education of about $58 million went out to spouses and children who were killed or disabled by someone as military and first responders.
“So there were so many layers this week and the game has been that kind of engine forever,” he said.
That includes helping a family who has to pick up the work after losing a loved one. Named after the way American flags are folded in honor of servicemen and women, folds of honor have made a difference. This week, Rooney is rubbing his shoulders with his hero in a world outside of his comfort zone, but he is embracing the opportunity.
“As a fighter pilot, you’re very comfortable in combat and comfortable in the cockpit, but what you’ve learned when you go to uncomfortable places is where you grow up,” he said. “Aiming for a small eye, just like dropping a bomb in combat.
