Golf took a back seat to life and perspective on Tuesday as several Nationwide Tour players had a chance to visit the Livermore Veterans Affairs Medical Center and chat with a few of the servicemen at the facility.

"These guys are the reason we're even able to play golf," said Joel Edwards.

Edwards, along with Chip Beck, Bob Heintz, Joseph Alfieri, Brad Ott, Scott Weatherly and caddie Jeff Dean took time to visit the 120-bed convalescent hospital that provides care for World War II, Korean War and Vietnam veterans.

The Livermore facility, opened in 1929 as a tuberculosis hospital, is now part of the VA's Palo Alto Health Care System and provides hospital service to more than 100,000 veterans in the Central Valley each year.

"When I was growing up, I had unlimited choices about what I wanted to do," said Heintz, whose parents are both schoolteachers. "We all owe that to this generation of men and women who served this country. They are the ones who opened up the vast successes this country has enjoyed over the last 50 years."

Heintz said he wasn't sure what to expect or whom he would meet at the hospital, but said he was thankful for the opportunity to learn more about some of the men who have to call the hospital home.

"They don't care if you're famous or if you're a professional golfer. They care because you came to visit and that means a lot to have a chance to visit," said Heintz, who will join 143 other pros for this week's inaugural Livermore Valley Wine Country Championship, the fifth stop on the 2006 Nationwide Tour schedule. "These guys are there 24-7 and I'm sure it was a nice diversion for them. We got a chance to hear some really good stories. They've all contributed in ways that most of us never have or never will -- they've served our country. It was a nice gesture on our part, but it doesn't feel like we could do enough."