COMMUNITY
Pool tournament raises funds for veterans
Players to compete in the third annual Wreaths Across America 8-Ball Tournament
Three communities 鈥� Albuquerque, Rio Rancho and Los Alamos 鈥� are joining forces over green, felt-covered tables to help honor deceased area veterans.
The Wreaths Across America program aims to put holiday wreaths on veterans鈥� graves across the country. Local community members raise money for the wreaths and then volunteers go out each December to place them in cemeteries.
Cassandra Miller saw a good way to help out by dipping into one of her passions.
鈥淥ne of my best friends in Los Alamos was working to fulfill the orders for veterans for the cemetery there and every year she was struggling,鈥� Miller recalled. 鈥淪omehow, she always pulled it off but she was having a hard time and I thought I would start talking with people in my area.鈥�
That first year Miller brought in about $1,000 鈥渁nd I noticed that the majority of the money was coming from pool players,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o I thought, 鈥榃ouldn鈥檛 it be fun to do a pool tournament.鈥� I talked to some pool players and there was definite interest and I thought I鈥檓 going to do this.鈥�
This year, the third annual Wreaths Across America Charity 8-Ball Tournament, starts Saturday, July 11, at 10 a.m. at Slate Street Billiards in Rio Rancho.
鈥淲e had 76 players show up to play in that first tournament, which was unheard of to have that many people and it was amazing and everybody had such a great time. It was above and beyond what I ever expected,鈥� Miller said, adding the event raised more than $4,000. 鈥淎fter that tournament, several people came up to me and told me I had to make it an annual tournament.鈥�
And now it has become an annual event, perhaps the highlight of the summer billiards season.
鈥淲e always do it in July, Christmas in July,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淲e try and do it five months before the actual Wreaths Across America day so that gives us four months to raise enough donations.鈥�
Albuquerque resident and pool player Dan Scoglietti said it鈥檚 become a tournament that he will not miss.
鈥淔irst of all, I love to play pool and when it鈥檚 a good cause, for the veterans and the charity, it鈥檚 just something you have to do,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e all want to win, but in this one, it doesn鈥檛 matter if you win or lose because it鈥檚 for the veterans, for the ones who gave their lives for our freedom.鈥�
And that makes it special, Scoglietti said.
鈥淭o me, I feel honored playing in it,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think we鈥檙e honoring all those who died for our freedom and all those who served our country.鈥�
