In honor of Military Appreciation Month this May, a unique and meaningful campaign is launched that brings together golf, service, and legacy. The 2025 golf season will begin with a powerful gesture of gratitude, pairing brand sponsorship with purpose by supporting a Service Dog for a veteran battling PTSD. The initiative goes further by naming the dog “Charlie” in tribute to Dr. Charles Sifford, the first Black man to play on the PGA Tour (1961) and a World War II Army veteran.
Charlie Sifford served in the U.S. Army during World War II from October 1944 to March 1946, holding the rank of Private First Class. During his service, he was a member of the 24th Infantry Regiment, one of the Army’s segregated units at the time. His military experience, particularly during the Battle of Okinawa, was a formative period that reinforced his determination to pursue a career in professional golf despite the racial barriers of the era. After his discharge in 1946, Sifford returned to civilian life and began to make a name for himself in the United Golf Association, winning the National Negro Open six times.
Supporters are invited to become members of the 22 Service Dogs for 22 Veterans Advocacy Group. This group is dedicated to providing life-changing service dogs for veterans while honoring the legacy of Black veterans like Dr. Sifford. The first five individuals who register as Standard Members in May, at a cost of $250, are eligible for the Membership 50/50 Raffle. Each participant receives one dollar for the first 500 lapel pin sales through Salute To Duty, potentially earning $500.
This $500 is then split. Half is returned to the participant, effectively refunding their membership fee. The other $250 is donated in their name to the Charlie Sifford Scholarship Fund, continuing the legacy of supporting diversity and opportunity in golf.
Russ Crockett from the Sifford Scholarship Committee provided some background about the project – “We were extremely proud to partner with the Salute to Duty team in recognition of Dr. Sifford’s courageous military service during World War II. Having a service dog providing support to another veteran in Dr. Sifford’s honor represents a value that he held high – he would be very proud to know that his name was associated with helping others”
“This is an effort that we’ve been working on for some time now,” said Crockett, Chair of the Sifford Estate and he runs the Sifford Scholars Program in association with the Cobbs Creek Foundation. “We’re pleased to see the program in action and are pleased to have the legacy of Dr. Sifford honored.” Sifford received many honors in his lifetime. He inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2004 and presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014. He passed away in February 2015 at age 92.
Membership into the 22 Service Dogs for 22 Veterans Advocacy Group also includes visibility benefits. Businesses are featured on postcard inserts included with lapel pin orders, and logos appear on promotional materials and the campaign’s website. Members are also automatically enrolled in the 22Golf Tour, which kicks off May 22nd.
Salute To Duty has pledged a $5000 donation to the Charlie Sifford Scholarship Fund by contributing $5 from the first 1000 lapel pins sold.
This campaign highlights the underrepresentation of Black veterans in commemorative naming. Currently, less than one percent of service dogs carry the names of Black military heroes. This effort aims to change that.
Dr. Sifford once said, “You have to be tough to make it. The guys who stayed the course, they’re the ones who made it.” This initiative not only honors his resilience but continues his fight for representation, support, and recognition—on and off the golf course.
