The Northern Trust returns to Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City this August for the first time since 2019, and this year the tournament will be honoring local first responders.

Tournament officials announced that firefighters will have free daily admission to this year’s tournament. They will also get free parking, ferry access and a special concession club for them to gather and watch the action. The Firefighter Appreciation Program comes ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

“We went to the mayor after the 2019 event knowing about 9/11. We had no idea about COVID at the time. And we said we wanted to honor our first responders in that way. And [the mayor] said, ‘I’m going to hold you accountable.’ So this was the first step…trying to acknowledge people that go to work every day and do great things for us,” says Northern Trust executive director Julie Tyson.

Marilyn White has been volunteering at the Northern Trust for more than 30 years. She was also working on the 95th floor of the Southern Tower at the World Trade Center on the morning of the 2001 attacks.

“That stays with you, so whenever I see a firefighter, I would always say to them, ‘Thank you for your service,’ because I know firsthand, if they hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t be here,” White says.

Along with honoring firefighters, White says she also can’t wait to welcome all the players back to Jersey City.

“To be able to look out on the venue and see the beautiful Statue of Liberty and to see New York…hopefully in full-throttle coming back,” says White.

The Northern Trust is the first round of the FedEx Cup Playoffs. The event tees off on Aug. 16. Tickets are on sale now at the Northern Trust website.