Capt. Andrew Koss Honored at Golf Event
MILL HALL — The Lock Haven University R.O.T.C. Scholarship golf event in honor of Woolrich native, Captain Andrew Koss was held today July 10, 2015 at the Clinton Country Club.
The memorial event was created to honor Captain Andrew Koss and to aid his legacy to educating men and women in the R.O.T.C. program at Lock Haven University.
Captain Andrew Koss, son of Anthony John Koss, Jr. of Lock Haven and the late Jean Durkott Koss, passed away December 2, 2013. Koss was a graduate from Lock Haven High school in 1998, and graduated from Slippery Rock University in 2002. Andrew served 16 months with the 172nd Striker Combat Team in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which he received the Bronze Star for his actions.
Close to $25,000 have been raised for his memorial fundraiser and all proceeds go directly to benefiting the R.O.T.C program at LHU in every way possible.
Patrick Guerrero, lead planner for the golf event explained, “It was just about this time last year where a bunch of my friends asked me in this very spot under the flag to start the planning process.”
Guerrero continued, “we wanted a close committee and made sure to include members from Andrews family as well as some people I knew who could really get some good things done.”
Special guest Dave Bower, PA V.F.W. Service Officer said, “The first thing you would notice about Andrew was that he lived life to the fullest. I got to know him fairly well through paper but then I finally got to meet the man I had heard so much about.”
Bower continued, “So I can tell you this, from what I knew about him, it’s not how long you live, but how well you live with the time you have.”
Emotional levels were at a definite high as Sgt. Terry Banfill, US Army Ranger and wife Carmen, presented a framed commemoration and the American flag to Andrew Koss’s family members who raised the flag today in honor of Andrew.
Guerrero said, “the turnout for this event has been better than I ever thought. It’s amazing to see how many people came out and are showing support for Andrew and his family today.”
Sgt. Terry Banfill gave a few brief words commenting, “It’s a very humbling feeling for my wife Carmen and I to help with this special event to recognize Captain Andrew Koss.”
Banfill continued, “Andrew Koss was first an officer and a gentleman, but he was also a true American patriot and a warrior.”
The support for Andrew Koss and his family has been immense, and the $25,000 raised shows just how much Koss’s legacy and the program enveloped around his memory means to all of the individuals present today.
