LITCHFIELD PARK, Ariz. — A golf tournament benefiting families of fallen or disabled military and first responders teed off in the West Valley.
While there are smiles and positive thoughts as players gather to support a great cause, some still remember the gravity and somberness of why they are all together. It's been nearly two decades since Corporal C.J. Lapka lost his life serving with the Marines in Fallujah, and his former wrestling coach Ernest Molina said there's still a lot of pain with his loss.
“My wife answered the phone and I could hear from her sentiment and her tone that something was wrong and she walked out of the room and looked right at me and told me CJ had passed,” Molina said.
Molina also shared how his memory is very much alive through his loved ones.
“He was incredible in that transition," Molina said. "He jumped into everything at 100 miles an hour, just like he was a Marine. That’s the way he embraced life.”
Now, nearly 20 years since Lapka was killed in action, the Patriot All-America Golf Tournament teed off at the Wigwam Golf Resort, in memory of Lapka and other fallen or disabled military and first responders.
Arizona fallen first responders, like firefighter Austin Peck. His friends and former firefighter colleagues like Zack Renschler, said they still keep in touch with Peck's family, long after his passing.
“The beautiful thing about the fire service is that we encompass our families because we’re accepted into another family, and Austin was a huge part of that and empowered and spread his love through all of us," Renschler said.
Peck lost his battle with occupational cancer, a diagnosis he got on the job.
“You watch one of your best friends going from being happy and a father and being loveable and laughing to watching the reality of his body change, his mind change, and that hopeless feeling," Renschler said. "And that’s really when it sinks in.”
Peck was an 11-year veteran of the Goodyear Fire Department. Cancer risks firefighters face while working is something his memory is still bringing attention to, today, said another of Peck's friends and firefighter colleagues, Marc Holstein.
“Our stations, the way they’re built now, we’re at the forefront of positive pressure throughout our stations to help mitigate some of these things from diesel exhaust that contributes to cancer to how we decom when we come back from a fire," Holstein said. "All these things are part of him.”
Years after their passing, ensuring both Lapka and Peck’s memories are not forgotten, golf bags with their names on them will be carried during the Patriot All-America tournament.
The tournament runs through Dec 31. It benefits Folds of Honor, which offers educational scholarships to spouses and children of fallen or disabled military and first responders.
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