The Barclays plans Military Appreciation Day

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Aug. 20, 2009

JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- In honor of all members of the military, The Barclays is hosting Military Appreciation Day on Wednesday, Aug. 26. The day will be officially proclaimed Military Appreciation Day in New Jersey by Governor Jon Corzine's office at 10 a.m. in the Birdies for the Brave Patriots' Outpost. Highlighting the full day of activities is a special appearance by Nets Basketball's Terrence Williams and Buddy Valastro, an accomplished master baker and cake decorator and star of the hit TLC reality show "Cake Boss." The first event in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup, The Barclays, will be played Aug. 25-30 and will feature the top 125 players on the FedExCup points list from the PGA TOUR Regular Season.

Active duty/retired members of all five branches of the military and the National Guard are invited to attend The Barclays free of charge Tuesday, Aug. 25, through Sunday, Aug. 30, and will be admitted by showing proper military identification at the gate.

While onsite during the week, active duty and retired military personnel, along with their dependents, are invited to visit the Birdies for the Brave Patriots' Outpost, an expansive military hospitality chalet located near the main entrance offering panoramic views of the fourth green. The Patriots' Outpost is open Wednesday, Aug. 26, through Sunday, Aug. 30, from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and will provide military guests and their dependents with complimentary food and beverage, television coverage of competition each day, and a special kids' area. Volunteers from the American Red Cross will staff the Patriots' Outpost throughout tournament week.

Following the official proclamation of "Military Appreciation Day," Williams will make a special appearance at the Patriots' Outpost from 12:30-1:30 p.m. He will visit with military members and participate in the Pro vs. GI Joe competition -- a unique morale-boosting concept that allows gamers in the United States to compete in a Guitar Hero show-down against soldiers stationed abroad. Williams, who is an NBA rookie, was a forward at Louisville from 2005-09 and was the Nets' first-round pick in this year's NBA Draft. Valastro -- the "Cake Boss" -- will then present a specialty cake in honor of the military festivities.

The Patriots' Outpost is part of the PGA TOUR's national Birdies for the Brave military outreach program. In addition to raising funds for military men and women and their dependents through charity golf events hosted throughout the year, Birdies for the Brave includes military appreciation celebrations held during PGA TOUR tournaments; postcard and letter-writing campaigns for the troops; donation drives for military families; and the Adopt-A-Wounded Warrior Program.

Continuing the theme of honoring members of the U.S. military, on Saturday, Aug. 29 and Sunday, Aug. 30, uniformed military members will make the Player Announcements at the No. 1 Tee. On Sunday, Aug. 30, a military honor guard will present the colors, and a uniformed military member will sing the National Anthem.

Tickets to The Barclays are available at www.thebarclaysgolf.com. Daily galleries will be limited to 25,000 spectators. Daily and Weekly tickets are available starting Tuesday of tournament week, Aug. 25.