The timing was perfect – May 18, 2013, Armed Forces Day and the second annual Camp Pendleton Cup played at the Mike Farah created Celebrity Ranch contested between the Celebrity Ranch Polo Team (Scott Walker, Parker Scott, and Julie Empey) and the all Military Team (Marine Corps Lt. Col. Dean Daggett, Marine Corps Lt. Col. Steve Walsh, Marine Corps Corp. Christopher Jones, and Navy Lt. Rob Burk – alternating three chukkas each).
With Lt. Gen. John Toolan, Commanding General I Marine Expeditionary Force and his wife Helen in attendance, a large crowd, including a color guard from Camp Pendleton and over 100 very enthusiastic Marines saw the Military group prevail 12 – 11 in an extremely exciting and close game. In fact the winning goal, scored by Corp. Jones, came with only 12 seconds left in regulation time. As a result, the Military Team was awarded the Camp Pendleton Cup.
The action in the stadium completed, it was time for the second award of the afternoon as Farah, the Chairman of the Charity Sub Committee of the USPA, on behalf of supporters of the Celebrity Foundation, presented Semper Fi Fund representative Helen Toolan a check for $100,000 payable to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. It was fitting that Farah made the presentation, as his history with Camp Pendleton goes back 42 years to when he was co- chair of the Southern California Marine’s Toys for Tots Program. As well, Farah worked USO shows with his neighbor Bob Hope.
Armed Forces Day 2013 turned out to be a great afternoon indeed with a victory in the Camp Pendleton Cup for the Military Polo Team and a big win for the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund – a double score for the United States Armed Forces at the Celebrity Ranch Polo Club.
Tony Gregg