thedrifter
07-26-07, 07:05 AM
Hunts for Heroes taking wounded troops fishing
July 26, 2007 - Posted at 12:00 a.m.
BY BARRY HALVORSON - VICTORIA ADVOCATE
EL CAMPO - Preferring to make their patriotism to be something more than lip service, the Hunts For Heroes group will be hosting a fishing outing in Palacios for U.S. military personnel recovering from injuries suffered while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan this weekend.
This is the second year for the fishing event, Hunts' president Billy Hodges said.
"Last year's event was really our first and was the biggest until this one," Hodges said.
"We called it a 'tournament' but it really was just an opportunity to give the soldiers a weekend away from the hospital. But we expect to have both Army and Marines here and you know those two groups are going to be competitive with each other."
The military personnel, both men and women, participating are currently receiving treatment at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. Hodges said he expects that 24 patients will participate in the event.
"But we also invite spouses and some of the hospital personnel and have our own volunteers," he said. "We expect to actually serve 125 people at our barbecue on Saturday evening."
While acknowledging that the residents of the region support the troops serving overseas, Hodges said that the event, which will be headquartered at the Serendipity Bay Resort, will be closed to the general public.
"This will be the first time many of them will have a chance to get out in public since arriving at BAMC," he said. "The officials at the hospital are very careful about activities like these. A lot of the injured still aren't comfortable with being out in public and the hospital doesn't want them to be put on display."
While the event is private, Hodges said their arrival would not as the citizens of Palacios have been encouraged to line the streets to give them a warm welcome.
The group from BAMC will be traveling in a van and chartered bus and expected to arrive between 1 and 2 p.m.
"The city council has also passed a resolution welcoming them," Hodges said. "That resolution along with the keys to the city are supposed to be presented during our Saturday night dinner."
Since holding its first fishing event a year ago, Hodges said Hunts for Heroes had received 501-C3 status as a not-for-profit group and accepts tax-deductible donations to help fund its efforts.
He added people in the region have been very supportive of the group's efforts. Local businesses have donated either food or other needed supplies for events, several volunteers have offered the use of their boats for the fishing and that many have made monetary donations. Helping put together is the group's regular volunteers, most of whom are also members of the El Campo Volunteer Fire Department.
"Just this week, someone came in and gave us a $2,500 donation," Hodges said. "That's the kind of generosity that this area is noted for having. Even if the area didn't have almost perfect weather most of the year I'd want to live here just because of the quality of the people."
For more information on Hunts for Heroes, visit their Web site at huntsforheroes.com
Ellie
July 26, 2007 - Posted at 12:00 a.m.
BY BARRY HALVORSON - VICTORIA ADVOCATE
EL CAMPO - Preferring to make their patriotism to be something more than lip service, the Hunts For Heroes group will be hosting a fishing outing in Palacios for U.S. military personnel recovering from injuries suffered while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan this weekend.
This is the second year for the fishing event, Hunts' president Billy Hodges said.
"Last year's event was really our first and was the biggest until this one," Hodges said.
"We called it a 'tournament' but it really was just an opportunity to give the soldiers a weekend away from the hospital. But we expect to have both Army and Marines here and you know those two groups are going to be competitive with each other."
The military personnel, both men and women, participating are currently receiving treatment at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. Hodges said he expects that 24 patients will participate in the event.
"But we also invite spouses and some of the hospital personnel and have our own volunteers," he said. "We expect to actually serve 125 people at our barbecue on Saturday evening."
While acknowledging that the residents of the region support the troops serving overseas, Hodges said that the event, which will be headquartered at the Serendipity Bay Resort, will be closed to the general public.
"This will be the first time many of them will have a chance to get out in public since arriving at BAMC," he said. "The officials at the hospital are very careful about activities like these. A lot of the injured still aren't comfortable with being out in public and the hospital doesn't want them to be put on display."
While the event is private, Hodges said their arrival would not as the citizens of Palacios have been encouraged to line the streets to give them a warm welcome.
The group from BAMC will be traveling in a van and chartered bus and expected to arrive between 1 and 2 p.m.
"The city council has also passed a resolution welcoming them," Hodges said. "That resolution along with the keys to the city are supposed to be presented during our Saturday night dinner."
Since holding its first fishing event a year ago, Hodges said Hunts for Heroes had received 501-C3 status as a not-for-profit group and accepts tax-deductible donations to help fund its efforts.
He added people in the region have been very supportive of the group's efforts. Local businesses have donated either food or other needed supplies for events, several volunteers have offered the use of their boats for the fishing and that many have made monetary donations. Helping put together is the group's regular volunteers, most of whom are also members of the El Campo Volunteer Fire Department.
"Just this week, someone came in and gave us a $2,500 donation," Hodges said. "That's the kind of generosity that this area is noted for having. Even if the area didn't have almost perfect weather most of the year I'd want to live here just because of the quality of the people."
For more information on Hunts for Heroes, visit their Web site at huntsforheroes.com
Ellie