19th Annual Military Appreciation Night
ARMED FORCES CHARITY POLO MATCH
TO BE HELD JUNE 29, 2013
Hosted by Great Meadows Polo Club’s Twilight Polo in the arena at The Plains, Virginia.
On June 29, 2013, members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard are scheduled to come together to “Battle in the Saddle” to compete in an Armed Forces Polo Tournament at Great Meadows Polo in The Plains, Virginia. The 19th annual Military Appreciation Night first began in 1994 during Great Meadow Polo’s inaugural season with the assistance of Mark Gillespie, (Major, U.S. Army, Retired) who is the founder of the Army Polo Club and captain of its Army team. “The Great Meadow Foundation and the Great Meadow Polo Club have always been great supporters of the nation’s Armed Forces. From the Great Meadow Polo Club’s beginning in 1994, a Marine Corps flag has always flown over the arena in honor of Nick Arundel, who founded Great Meadow and once served in the U.S. Marine Corps.” The tradition of a Twilight Polo night in honor of the Armed Forces continues this year with a charity match to benefit the Army Caisson Platoon’s Equine Assisted Therapy Program for Wounded Warriors. Military polo teams recently have been increasing the number of events they play to raise funds to support the military community. Military tournaments and military polo charity events have recently been held in locations across the nation to include Poway, California and Honolulu, Hawaii.
Funds raised at the tournament on the 29th at Great Meadow will benefit the Army Caisson Platoon’s Equine Assisted Therapy Program that is focused on helping wounded warriors. “The Army Caisson Platoon’s program uses horses to help Wounded Warriors regain their lost sense of balance and does wonders to counter the depression that often accompanies loss of limbs and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,” stated Major (Ret.) Gillespie.
This year’s round robin tournament will see members of almost every branch competing. “We anticipate a wide variety of services represented among the players competing this year, including the Army, Navy, Marines and the U.S. Coast Guard,” noted Major (Ret.) Gillespie. This year, expect to see two Army teams (Army Black and Army Gray) and a Navy Department team consisting of players from the Marines, Navy and Coast Guard clashing in a 6 chukker round robin. “Our hopes are that we can raise a substantial amount of money to help support our comrades in arms who are wounded.”
“Being in the capital area, we have an extraordinary number of active duty as well as veterans and retirees.” says Gillespie. “This is a great event for those stationed or retired here to see a little friendly service competition and come out for a night of fun with the family.”
The gates open at 6:30. Admission for active duty and all military personnel who show a military ID card will be admitted free of charge. Picnicking on the polo grounds is both permitted and encouraged.