This spring, The Pingry School’s 2016 Boys’ Varsity Golf Team, led by the efforts of Head Coach Joe Forte and co-captain Jake Mayer ’17, participated in the Folds of Honor Military Tribute Program to honor the memory of William F. Little III ’64, a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.
Folds of Honor, which Jake Mayer heard about while playing in a tournament, provides the opportunity for a high school or college golf program to honor a fallen or severely wounded American soldier by having team members carry a golf bag displaying the name, rank, and branch of service of the soldier being honored. During the season, the golf team worked hard and raised money to send to Folds of Honor in Lt. Little’s name. Through scholarships and other assistance, Folds of Honor gives back to the families of soldiers killed or are severely wounded in service to the United States.
Lt. Little was killed in action in Vietnam when he gave his life to protect one of his own men. The golf team selected Lt. Little after the Class of 1964 made a gift to Pingry in his memory.
“We wanted to honor Lt. Little’s sacrifice. He was a Pingry alum, and it wasn’t hard to reach out [to his family] because his sister Alison Little ’82 is a Pingry parent,” Jake said. “I like community service through golf, and I like giving back to the military because my grandfather fought in World War II. There are lots of golf/military partnerships, so this is one way that a high school can be involved.”
Thanks to the efforts of Coach Forte and the Athletics Department, Pingry purchased two golf bags and engraved them—one for Alison Little and one for Bob Weissman, Lt. Little’s classmate who helped spearhead the class gift.
Coach Forte is proud that the team participated in Folds of Honor, saying, “We hope to make this an annual effort.”
(above l-r) Bruce Morrison ’64, Boys’ Golf Team Head Coach Joe Forte, Alison Little ’82 and her daughter Julia Saksena ’22 (Mountainside), Boys’ Golf Team Co-Captains Jake Mayer ’17 and Justin Chae ’16, and Miller Bugliari ’52.
