Golf Yankee Six is a non-profit organization. We exist to fulfill a charitable mission. We were founded with a shared passion and purpose, as opposed to generating a profit. We have the potential to create tremendous change and impact in our community. We hope to bridge the gap between those who need assistance, whether it be mental or social, by providing life saving counseling sessions.

Veteran mental health is of utmost importance as veterans often face a variety of unique mental health challenges that can arise from their military service. For instance, many veterans suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which can result in symptoms such as intrusive memories, depression and anxiety. Additionally, veterans may also experience issues such as anger management problems, substance abuse and difficulty adjusting to civilian life. It is essential for us to acknowledge the mental health needs of our veterans and take steps towards providing them with the necessary resources and support they require. This can mean offering counseling services, providing support for family members and loved ones or advocating for increased funding for veteran programs. Through these measures we hope to create an environment where former service members can find strength, understanding and healing.

Giving a charitable donation to support veteran mental health is an excellent way to show your appreciation and support for those who have served in the military. By contributing to organizations that provide mental health services specifically tailored to veterans, you can help ensure that former service members receive the necessary care they need. Charitable donations can also be used to fund research into the causes and treatments of mental illness in veterans, as well as providing financial support for programs aimed at preventing suicide among former troops. In addition, donations can help provide access to legal services and other basic necessities such as housing or transportation. Ultimately, your donation will allow us to honor our service members by giving them the best possible care available.

We only use 100% American made/manufactured/designed products with US cotton. Other companies use US cotton, but are made elsewhere. We are committed to only using fully American made products. We use Bayside – The American Made Tee. Visit their site to learn more: https://usabayside.com/

GYS wants to help Veterans know our mission begins when theirs’ ends. With every shirt or product purchase, you can help raise awareness of Veterans mental health while empowering our local community to be armed with the knowledge, compassion, and courage to complete our mission, to save Veteran lives. By these purchases on our website or at our local pop-ups, you can help us invest directly into mental health services for our Veterans.

As owners and mental health therapists, we have each worked in the Orlando area for almost 20 years. We see the soldiers returning home. We work with their families. We work with Veterans both with and without PTSD. We see the need for longterm counseling for our Veterans. No matter what, every Veteran has a story. One day, we were talking about how we wished there was more awareness of Mental Health for our Veterans. We knew there was a desperate need for counseling services for these men and women Veterans. We wanted to teach others how to sit with a Veteran so they can share their story. We wished there were more clinicians like us and how we need to expand our own team to help more Veterans. Just the two of us was not enough. In our practice, we saw the need for mental health services and the lack of services available for these men and women. Just doing outpatient counseling was not enough to meet the needs of many of these Veterans. We thought, we can do more, we have to do more. These men and women laid their lives on the line and we tell them to wait 3-6 months to see a counselor to start to unpack the most horrific memories? No, that is not acceptable. We have to do more. We need a bigger team. We are leveraging our education and experience to help our team know what to say and where to send Veterans for help when presented with the opportunity; to help equip our Veterans with the tools they need to face their battles at home. The war may have ended, but their healing has just begun.

The U.S. Department of Defense said in response to queries about this topic, “We appreciate and share your concern for the respectful display of our American flag on the uniform of the U.S. armed forces. While each service branch has its own uniform regulation, please see the Department of the Army Regulation 670-1, Guide to the Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia. Chapter 19 addresses this issue specifically. It states, in part, ‘The U.S. flag embroidered insignia is worn so that the star field faces forward, or to the flag’s own right. When worn in this manner, the flag is facing the observer’s right and gives the effect of the flag flying in the breeze as the wearer moves forward.’” This “backwards” flag will only be worn on the right arm. As AR 670-1 states, the patch keeps the blue union field moving forward, as if the flag were being carried into battle.

As the daughter of a Veteran, I was talking with my Dad about his experiences in the military. He was sharing a story about his time during the Vietnam War, a story I had never heard before. Afterward, all I could think about was how every Veteran has hundreds of stories like the ones I was hearing, and for some, they will never share their stories. My training tells me that this is a personal choice and that every Veteran will have a different experience. Some may choose to stand up to be recognized as a Veteran at the baseball game and for some, they will never stand. This is their choice and both are honorable. I am glad they are home. I want to honor you. Period. I want Veterans to see that I and we as a community have your back. I brought the idea back to my Dad. He said, ‘Golf Yankee Six’. He continued, ‘Got your back’. And the rest is history.

Florida is home to one of the largest concentrations of active duty service members, including 1.6 million Veterans. I spent the past 20 years creating relationships with local businesses such as restaurants, breweries, universities, etc. in Central Florida who want to help our Veterans, but don’t know how. We have existing and established counseling centers that need funding to provide these life saving mental health services to our Veterans. We have met the needs of our community in our other roles as therapists, professor, community health agency director, etc., but we want to do more. We want Veterans to see the size of our team when they look around the room and see Golf Yankee Six shirts. We want them to see shirts in the grocery store, the little league field, and where they receive mental health services. You are not only purchasing a shirt, you will also receive tips about what to say, what not not say, local resources for Veterans, and a website for Veterans in need.