In this edition of Why I Serve, featuring Wounded Warrior Project, the Recorder sat down with St. Augustine resident Mario Caycedo, a Marine Corps veteran who served in Kuwait and Iraq. He recently graduated from the MBA program at the University of Florida and is soon to launch his own business venture.

The Recorder stopped by Nease spring football practice on Thursday to check in with new head coach Collin Drafts, who was in town this week for the second time since taking the job.

In this edition of Why I Serve, featuring Wounded Warrior Project, the Recorder sat down with Nocatee resident Josh Wathen, an Army veteran who served as a military police officer in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kyrgyzstan. Wathen was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED) twice while on patrols in Iraq. He currently is in graduate school at University of North Florida (UNF) and is a grad manager with the men’s basketball team.

Ninety resumes, eight candidates, two final candidates and several interviews later, Ponte Vedra High School has found the man it believes will not only continue the winning ways of its football program, but elevate that standard too.

In this edition of Why I Serve, featuring Wounded Warrior Project, the Recorder sat down with St. Augustine resident Charlamain Caycedo, a Navy veteran of four years who served in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and the Persian Gulf.

After Jim Furyk birdied on 18 late Sunday at THE PLAYERS, a few tears crept down his face as he tipped his hat to the crowd and walked toward the TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse. At that moment, Furyk was the leader of the tournament at 15-under, but perhaps more significant, the longtime area resident was home, with friends and family in the crowd, and he had returned to a state of his game not seen in years.

In this edition of Why I Serve, featuring Wounded Warrior Project, the Recorder sat down with Ed Waller, a retired captain who spent 25 years in the Navy. Waller was a P-3 Orion pilot who, among several other experiences and responsibilities, tracked Soviet submarines during the Cold War.

In this edition of Why I Serve, featuring Wounded Warrior Project, the Recorder sat down with Chet Kevin Crowell, a retired sergeant first class who served as a parachuter in the Army in Panama and Iraq. Crowell received his service dog from K9s For Warriors in 2012.

In this edition of Why I Serve, featuring Wounded Warrior Project, the Recorder sat down with Honor Andruzzi, a Navy veteran and St. Augustine resident who served from 1996 to 2005, specializing in field medical services and physical therapy.

Maria Poole (@PonteVedraTravelGal) is a luxury travel advisor based in Ponte Vedra Beach.