FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Mark Gillespie, Army Polo Club
Phone: +1 (703) 298-6319
Email: 4markgillespie@gmail.com
AMERICAN MILITARY POLO TEAM HEADS TO NORMANDY, FRANCE TO “BATTLE IN THE SADDLE” IN THE D-DAY ANNIVERSARY CUP ON THE INVASION’S 75TH ANNIVERSARY, 6 JUNE 2019
The American team comprised of active duty, retired and former military personnel with the support of the American International Polo Foundation and the US Polo Association are scheduled to play a polo match sanctioned by Patton Legacy Sports at the Deauville International Polo Club at 3 PM in Deauville, France near the invasion beaches.
Washington, DC. (May 30, 2019) – The Army Polo Club announces the launch of a high-spirited American invasion force of veteran polo players to the famous beaches of Normandy in France to play in a match commemorating the 75th Anniversary of D-Day.
The team’s roster includes First Lieutenant Patrick Shanahan who is currently serving the U.S. Army’s 7th Infantry Division. Shanahan will be playing with veterans Lieutenant Colonel Steven Walsh, (USMC, Ret.), Major Mark Gillespie (US Army, Ret.), former Captain John “Jake” Flournoy (USMC) and former First Lieutenant Douglas Palermo.
“The D-Day Anniversary Cup honors the courage, valor and sacrifices of the gallant Allies who came to Normandy on 6 June 1944 by air and sea to begin the long awaited drive to restore liberty to France and the rest of Europe,” said the team’s leader, Mark Gillespie, who organized the match. “The friendships that will develop through spirited competition on the polo field between the French and American participants will echo the camaraderie and strong bonds of friendship that were forged between Free French and American military forces as they joined together in battle against formidable foes in World War Two,” continued Gillespie.
The American team’s trip has been generously supported by the American International Polo Foundation (AIPF) whose mission includes fostering national and international amateur competition in the sport of polo. The AIPF has been a solid backer of recent international military polo events whose help has been indispensable.
The American team expects Helen Patton, the granddaughter of General George S. Patton, Jr. to attend the match and has deemed the D-Day Anniversary Cup and Patton Legacy Sports event which she hopes will become an annual fixture. Her grandfather, General Patton, was an enthusiastic polo player who viewed the activity as the best sporting preparation for modern combat. Polo is the original sport of mounted warriors started over 2,500 years ago to keep the men and their steeds ready for war. The US Polo Association’s Armed Forces Committee also supports national and international military competitions like the D-Day Anniversary Cup.
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If you would like more information about this topic, please call Mark Gillespie at +1 (703) 298-6319 or email at 4markgillespie@gmail.com.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Mark Gillespie, Army Polo Club
Phone: +1 (703) 298-6319
Email: 4markgillespie@gmail.com
AMERICAN MILITARY POLO TEAM HEADS TO NORMANDY, FRANCE TO “BATTLE IN THE SADDLE” IN THE D-DAY ANNIVERSARY CUP ON THE INVASION’S 75TH ANNIVERSARY, 6 JUNE 2019
The American team comprised of active duty, retired and former military personnel with the support of the American International Polo Foundation and the US Polo Association are scheduled to play a polo match sanctioned by Patton Legacy Sports at the Deauville International Polo Club at 3 PM in Deauville, France near the invasion beaches.
Washington, DC. (May 30, 2019) – The Army Polo Club announces the launch of a high-spirited American invasion force of veteran polo players to the famous beaches of Normandy in France to play in a match commemorating the 75th Anniversary of D-Day.
The team’s roster includes First Lieutenant Patrick Shanahan who is currently serving the U.S. Army’s 7th Infantry Division. Shanahan will be playing with veterans Lieutenant Colonel Steven Walsh, (USMC, Ret.), Major Mark Gillespie (US Army, Ret.), former Captain John “Jake” Flournoy (USMC) and former First Lieutenant Douglas Palermo.
“The D-Day Anniversary Cup honors the courage, valor and sacrifices of the gallant Allies who came to Normandy on 6 June 1944 by air and sea to begin the long awaited drive to restore liberty to France and the rest of Europe,” said the team’s leader, Mark Gillespie, who organized the match. “The friendships that will develop through spirited competition on the polo field between the French and American participants will echo the camaraderie and strong bonds of friendship that were forged between Free French and American military forces as they joined together in battle against formidable foes in World War Two,” continued Gillespie.
The American team’s trip has been generously supported by the American International Polo Foundation (AIPF) whose mission includes fostering national and international amateur competition in the sport of polo. The AIPF has been a solid backer of recent international military polo events whose help has been indispensable.
The American team expects Helen Patton, the granddaughter of General George S. Patton, Jr. to attend the match and has deemed the D-Day Anniversary Cup and Patton Legacy Sports event which she hopes will become an annual fixture. Her grandfather, General Patton, was an enthusiastic polo player who viewed the activity as the best sporting preparation for modern combat. Polo is the original sport of mounted warriors started over 2,500 years ago to keep the men and their steeds ready for war. The US Polo Association’s Armed Forces Committee also supports national and international military competitions like the D-Day Anniversary Cup.
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If you would like more information about this topic, please call Mark Gillespie at +1 (703) 298-6319 or email at 4markgillespie@gmail.com.
Information on USPA Membership can be found at: https://www.uspolo.org/association/membership or by calling: (800)232-USPA (8772)
The American International Polo Foundation is a nonprofit organization that has been approved by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt, 501c3 charitable organization and is not funded by USPA