Folds of Honor founderDan Rooney’sfavorite saying is that freedom isn’t free.
United States Navy Petty Officer 1stClass Michael Lammey is living proof. He honorably served his country for over nine years. But on Dec. 1, 2006, while aboard the U.S.S. Frank Cable in Guam, he was injured when a damaged boiler exploded, filling the room with 700-degree steam. He sustained third-degree burns on 56 percent of his body. He spent 4 ½ years undergoing multiple surgeries and a lengthy process of healing.
“I lost my profession; I lost my whole sense of self. It was a big thing that I had to rehabilitate,” he said, “not just my body but my mind.”
When he was medically retired, Lammey suddenly had all this free time on his hands. “I heard that retired people played golf, so, I went to Walmart and bought a driver and I went to the driving range and started trying to crush golf balls,” said Lammey, who wears two batting-cage style gloves when he plays because of the damage to his skin.
During his recovery process, his three daughters – Francine, Alexis and Mackenzie, began attending a Catholic private school.
“We didn’t know how we were going to keep the kids in school,” he recalled. “My wife, Rose, went on a retreat for caregivers and they mentioned Folds of Honor, and we looked it up on online and applied and were accepted and able to keep the kids in school, which was awesome.”
Francine is currently following in her father’s footsteps, serving in the Navy. Alexis and Mackenzie are both Folds of Honor scholarship recipients. So, too, is Rose, underscoring the profound impact Folds of Honor has had on their family. Since its founding in 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded nearly 73,000 educational scholarships totaling more than $340 million.
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“This is such a big blessing for us, and I wanted to do something to say thanks,” Lammey said.
Since 2019, he has been a member of the Folds of Honor Speaker’s Bureau, turning his life-changing experience into a source of hope and inspiration for others.
Golf facilities around the country are celebrating Patriot Golf Days, recognized annually throughout the month of May. Over the past 19 years, golf clubs nationwide have formed impactful partnerships with Folds of Honor, contributing to the transformative work of providing educational scholarships for the families of our brave military and first responders.
“There’s still thousands of other people that apply that there isn’t enough money to fund those scholarships,” Lammey said. “We need to keep getting the word out and let more people know the good work that Folds of Honor does so we can get all the rest of these families supported as well.”
On Memorial Day weekend, Lammey said it is time to reflect on the sacrifices that he and so many others made for their country. And a reminder that freedom isn’t free.
Adam Schupak is a senior writer for Golfweek, covering the PGA Tour.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek:Navy veteran's story highlights Folds of Honor impact