Merrimack Valley Golf Club Honors Veterans.

For most of us, true appreciation and acknowledgment of our military is limited to occasions such as Veterans Day and the times their perils come into view on the nightly news.  

But for members of the Merrimack Valley Golf Club, honoring veterans is at the center of their game.

Set near the tee for the 17th hole, a permanent memorial serves as a constant reminder of veterans from all services and eras. The understated memorial is bordered by small mounds of lush fescue. The centerpiece is a simple array of seven flag poles. The middle and tallest pole bears the Stars and Stripes, flanked on either side by the banner of each U.S. military service and the black MIA/POW flag.

Designed by world renowned golf course designer George Sargent, the space is a quiet respite from the busy links. From the slightly elevated memorial, visitors have a panoramic view of the course and nearby Methuen. Kevin Kattar, who owns the club with his family, wanted to commemorate the service and sacrifice of veterans. Many of the club’s members are veterans, including Jim Moran of Lawrence, who served in the Air Force.

“It’s a great thing that Kevin has done here. It makes me proud to be a veteran,” Moran says. Years ago, Kattar held a golf tournament to help raise money for the project. He says it sold out immediately. But that’s par for the course when supporting vets is concerned.