WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. – Celebrities in Wednesday's Greenbrier Classic Pro-Am hit the greens with a little extra help from local heroes--first responders that saved countless lives during the June floods in West Virginia last year.
"To have this recognition not only from The Greenbrier Hotel but the PGA tour, as well, it just means a lot to all of us. We're really getting to see people saying thank you," said Al Whitaker, Greenbrier County director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
It may be hard to believe but this time last year, the course was badly damaged from floodwaters. First responders had just begun to process what they had seen. Wednesday, it was a totally different story.
"Looking forward to just having fun, I know it will be lighthearted out on the course and I look forward to having fun with the players," said Shawn Wolford, a local first responder.
Wolford worked with the Rainelle Volunteer Fire Department last year during the flood. He says even on bright, happy days like Wednesday, the tragic images are still hard to forget.
"As we were going down the streets rescuing people, people on their roofs and upper story windows shining lights and screaming for help. To me it was stuff like in Hurricane Katrina, not stuff you expect around here," said Wolford.
But a little more than one year later, Shawn is able to smile. After all, caddying for Jase Robertson of Duck Dynasty and Bubba Watson is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that he refuses to take for granted.
"Being able to be out here and meet so many celebrities and different people, it's a great honor and great privilege to be able to do that," said Wolford.
The day was a grand show of appreciation on The Greenbrier golf course, a reward for the ones who risk their lives to keep us safe.