Our annual Forest City Golf Tournament is one of our detachment’s longest-running fundraising traditions. For the first fifteen years, it was organized and led by our own Alan Marston, whose dedication helped establish the tournament as the success it continues to be today.
This year marked the tournament’s twentieth anniversary, making it the perfect opportunity to honor the man whose vision, commitment, and countless hours of service made it possible. We were proud to rename this year’s event the Alan Marston 20th Anniversary Golf Tournament as a small token of our deep appreciation for his unwavering dedication to our detachment.
Alan is a Vietnam veteran and a four-time recipient of the Purple Heart. Few of us can truly comprehend the courage, resilience, and sacrifice required to endure the hardships he faced while serving our nation. Yet even after his military service, Alan has devoted more than twenty years to serving his fellow veterans and the Rutherford County community. His example reminds us that service does not end when the uniform comes off—it continues through compassion, leadership, and an enduring commitment to others.
From the bottom of our hearts, Alan, thank you. Your selfless service, humility, and unwavering dedication inspire all of us. We are honored to celebrate your legacy and grateful for everything you have done for our detachment and our community.
The Twentieth Annual Alan Marston Golf Tournament was a tremendous success. Nine teams joined us on the course, enjoying a day of fellowship while supporting our mission. We were also incredibly fortunate to receive the generous support of many local businesses through sponsorships and donations of door prizes, which were raffled off throughout the day. Their generosity helped make this event truly special.
We were especially grateful to welcome 22-Cakes, who set up alongside the tournament to share their delicious baked goods while supporting our event. If you haven’t heard of 22-Cakes and the incredible mission they represent, we encourage you to take a moment to learn more about them. At the conclusion of the tournament, they generously donated all of the day’s proceeds to our detachment—a gift that reflects the same spirit of service and community that this event is all about.
Although the morning greeted us with a little rain, the skies soon cleared, giving way to beautiful sunshine and nearly perfect golfing weather. More importantly, it gave us the opportunity to spend time together, strengthen old friendships, make new ones, and celebrate the incredible community that continues to stand beside our veterans.
To every player who came out, every business that sponsored or donated, the staff at Forest City Municipal Golf Course, and every member of our community who continues to support us year after year—thank you. Your generosity, kindness, and belief in our mission make events like this possible, and we are sincerely grateful for each and every one of you.
We look forward to carrying this tradition forward for many years to come, honoring those who have served while bringing our community together in a spirit of fellowship, gratitude, and service.
Until next year, Forest City!
Semper Fidelis!
Marine Corps League - Cpl. Chris S. Ebert Detachment 1221 