Peterborough, Ontario native Michael Bruce Freeman used golf help him get through his time serving Canada during a tour of duty in Afghanistan.
Unfortunately his life was taken on December 26, 2008 when his armoured vehicle struck an improvised explosive device during a security patrol.
The 28 year-old was the 104th Canadian to be killed in the country while serving his nation.
Freeman was a member of the November Company, 3rd Battalion, the Royal Canadian Regiment from CFB Petawawa.
Well known among his comrades was his love of golf. How much did he love the game? He built his own driving range at the Canadian post where he served in the Zhari district, using his down time between missions outside the wire to fine tune his swing.
A Toronto Star report quotes his grandfather as saying that Michael was sent off with “thousands” of golf balls for his mission by his father.
Freeman would reportedly reward the local children with candy for retrieving the golf balls at his “range”.
In his honour a Private Michael Freeman Memorial Golf Tournament was created that raises funds for Camp Maple Leaf, a residential summer camp in the Kawartha Region of Ontario.
On November 11 take a few minutes to remember those who fought and lost their lives so we could have the freedom we have today, or better still, on a daily basis thank those veterans and those still serving with a simple Thank You.
