On Sept. 5, 2012, he was honored at the First Vermont Wounded Warrior Golf Tournament and Banquet, for what he had experienced in October 2006, when he was 25 years-old and a platoon commander on his second combat tour in Iraq.
The Sept. 5 event was the first of its kind to be held in Vermont to raise the awareness of the Vermont Wounded Warriors. Capt. Filson was joined by 19 of his fellow Wounded Warriors who had served in the military during the Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan theatres of operations.
A Wounded Warrior was the fourth golfer on each of the foursomes that turned out to play (10 other foursomes made up the full score card for the afternoon event). Several of the Wounded Warriors had never swung a golf club before - it didn't matter - it was not about low score, closest to the pin or longest drive - the outing was about sharing a day of golf with these patriots. The Wounded Warriors were given their own distinctive colored golf shirt, lest there be no reason to not know who the day's honored guests were.
Through the generosity of one of the events sponsors, the USO/Liberty Bells, from New York City, brought their spirit and talents to Manchester. These professional dancers and singers, who give so much of their time and talent in support of the U.S. Armed Forces, brought an enormous amount of spirit and gaiety to the event, which was held at the Manchester Country Club.
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While the original intent of the event, when the 12-member committee first met in January of this year, was to raise the awareness of the plight of the Vermont Wounded Warrior, the outpouring of support - financial and in-kind has been of overwhelming.
The Orvis Company of Manchester provided each Wounded Warrior with a personal fly rod, reel, flies, guidebook and fly-fishing lesson. Plasan North America of Bennington, once they heard of the event, immediately stepped forward and became the tournament's title sponsor.
The J.K. Adams Company of Dorset, Manchester's Express Copy and Arlington's Artifact Marketing and Design support for the event was truly gratifying.
There were so many others who had come forward with their physical and financial support. It soon became apparent that the event was becoming more than solely an awareness event - it was also a financial success. And in large part this was accomplished because of the assistance provided by the tournament committee and the directors, management and staff of the Manchester Country Club.
Brigadier General (Ret) Jonathan E. Farnham, Vice Director of the Joint Staff of the Vermont Amy National Guard and the banquet keynote speaker presented substantial financial gifts that evening to support the Vermont Veterans Home, the Dodge House of Rutland (which provides transitional housing for Vermont Homeless Veterans) and to the Rutland City Mission and Veterans shelter.
As would be expected at such an event, there was a great deal of emotion with so many Vermont (and New York) patriots in one room. The emotion reached a high point when Gen. Farnham and Russ Mills, Manchester Country Club's Board President, called to the podium Capt. Brent Filson.
Capt. Filson was the recipient of the First Annual Manchester Country Club Vermont Wounded Warriors Golf Tournament Plaque. The former Marine Corps Officer, husband and father, accepted the plaque not for himself but for all of the Wounded Warriors at the event, within Vermont and throughout America.
The tournament's motto summed up the feelings of all who were present 'Sacrificium Est Sempre Memorabile' (Sacrifice Is Always Remembered).
Don Keelan writes a bi-weekly column and lives in Arlington.
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