Veterans take part in a fishing charter adventure

MENOMINEE — Nineteen veterans, along with four Freedom for Patriots (FFP) volunteer guides, took part in a Great Lakes trout/salmon fishing charter adventure in Kewaunee, Wisconsin, on June 22.

FFP, a Menominee non-profit organization providing support for active duty and veteran military members through recreational activities, regardless of physical or mental barriers, hosted the event. This year the members ranged in age from their 30s to more than 80. The oldest person to catch a fish was 84.

The entire adventure was funded by FFP, which raises money through company donations and an annual banquet. During the six-hour fishing trip, 32 lake trout/salmon were caught by the veterans. The charter boat captains, and crew fillet the fish for the veterans, free of charge.

The largest fish caught this year weighed in at 28 pounds by Chris Cadeau. One boat pulled in over 15 fish. Every one of the veterans had a great time talking with other veterans and reminiscing about the good old days of the military, according to organizers.

The stories continued from the bus trip to Kewaunee, throughout the fishing excursion and well into the evening meal.

All a veteran must do is register at FreedomforPatriots.org to be placed on the call list. FFP has over 300 veterans registered for these events. Registrants vary their locations from locally in the Marinette-Menominee area to Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Florida, Virginia, Maine, Wyoming, Mississippi, California, Georgia, Illinois, Texas and Ohio. It doesn’t matter where you live, we will call to see if you want to participate in the event, organizers state. If you can get here, we can accommodate you, the group said in a press release.

The veterans are called about two weeks before each FFP event. Two of the larger events that FFP hold is the charter fishing trip, and a fall bow season deer hunt.

Another FFP event is the Barbeque Brisket Cookoff, that pins 10 FFP veterans versus 10 Marinette Moose Lodge members in an all you can eat event that is open to the public. This year it will be held on Aug. 17 at the Marinette Moose Lodge on E. Nettleton Road. Veterans eat for free, paid for by FFP. The chefs receive their brisket on the Thursday before the event and have about 48 hours to prepare their brisket to the judges. And then the festivities begin.

Organizers congratulate the veterans on accepting the challenge and succeeding on the fishing adventure.