A golf tournament will be held in Union to benefit a support group for families of soldiers who have been deployed.

SPC. George Moss of Gaffney was deployed overseas last month, leaving his wife, Suzanne, and their children to fend for themselves for the first time. Suzanne said her husband loves the military and the structure it brings to his life, but she misses him dearly.

“My husband is always there — not just for our kids, but also for me — through everything,” she said. “He is loving, caring, supportive, intelligent, understanding, honest, loyal and my best friend. I am always trying to find new ways to stay busy with the kids so the days will go by faster and it will not feel like an eternity with each slow-passing day.”

While seeking help with coping with her husband’s absence, Suzanne found the Gaffney Family Readiness Group (FRG) — a readiness and support group for soldiers of Gaffney Army National Guard, Co. B 1-118, as well as their families and friends.

The group is made up of family, friends and community members who support each soldier and their family/friends through a deployment and after they return from a deployment. The group meets the second Saturday of each month and covers topics including stress management, financial management and family fun days. The group also raises funds to help pay for care packages for all of the soldiers and other items to help them and the families through the deployment.

In April, the group held a golf tournament fundraiser at Union’s River Chase Golf Club.

“The owners — Julia Miller Krasinski and her family — were extremely helpful and understanding of our situation,” Suzanne said. “She took the time to explain ways we could earn more money for our first fund raising event, and she was right there with us when we were serving food to all the golfers. She didn’t have to, but she did everything to help us out.”

She said when discussion came about among group members regarding a venue for their second golf tournament fundraiser, the choice was obvious after such a positive experience at River Chase.

“It was a wonderful feeling like they were our family,” Suzanne said. “So instead of leaving and finding another venue, we decided to stay with them because of their great hospitality.”

The next FRG golf tournament fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 20. Interested teams may register through River Chase Golf Club. Those who are interested may also call (864) 902-0575 or email libbiecheek2002@yahoo.com for more information.

Suzanne went on to discuss the experience of having her husband deployed for the first time.

“I think too often of when he does come home and how how happy I will be — the grand time we will have,” she said. “It makes me smile and I feel him right there with me again. When I get a phone call or email from him I feel so close to him and I smile a lot. It is almost like the first time we started dating. I’m more in love with him every day.”

The little things make Suzanne appreciate the roles her husband plays when he is home.

“I have learned very quickly how to be a handyman, mechanic, cook, seamstress, referee, scary monster during play time and any other title I pick up along the way through this deployment,” Suzanne laughed.

She said she misses the way her husband always surprises her, and told a story about their fourth anniversary, which was just before his deployment.

“He came home with nothing,” she said. “At first I was disappointed, but didn’t tell him. Then, he said he wanted to take the kids to get some ice cream and he would be back. Me being disappointed, I chose not to go with him. He came home with dinner and cake. He did remember! I was so happy.”

Her surprise did not end there.

“After we ate and the kids got in bed, we stayed up talking and he had offered to rub my feet,” she said, explaining that he asked her to lie down. “I thought nothing of it and laid down. When I laid my head on the pillow, there was something in my pillow case — it was hard and made a funny crinkling sound. I tore through the pillow case trying to get it out. I pulled out a paper and it said, ‘I want you to have this so you will always know you have my heart.’”

Suzanne said she began to cry uncontrollably at what she read.

“I could not stop crying,” she said. “I knew he was leaving and I hated it. I wanted him to stay longer. I wanted time to slow down and be in this moment together forever. Unfortunately, I knew that was not happening, no matter how much I cried.

“He reached in the pillowcase and pulled out a box,” she continued. “Inside it was a necklace with a key shaped like a heart at the top. He put it on me and said no matter how far apart we are I am always right there with you, I promise. He is always right there with me — he is right about that.”

Suzanne said even though she misses him, she is proud of what her husband is doing.

“I would stand beside him and support him no matter where it takes us — or just him,” she said. “He is my husband, my children’s father, my best friend, OUR SOLDIER! I am SO very proud of him too.”