CATAWBA ISLAND - Arriving with canes, in wheel chairs and some without any help at all, 15 veterans from the Sandusky Ohio Veterans Home were honored by the Catawba Island Club Commodores of the Blue Gavel with the second annual Voyage for Veterans at the Catawba Island Club.
The guest speaker Wednesday was Lt. Col. Jeffrey Capretto, retired U.S. Air Force.
“When I retired, it wasn’t the training, deployments or missions that I missed, it was the people that stood alongside me during all these events. It was my brothers and sisters-in-arms, that I had the privilege to serve alongside, the great American patriots, that came from all walks of life, that gave up freedoms that many take for granted, we trained together, fought together and accomplished missions,” Capretto said. “One of the most common questions I am asked is, what I will miss most…Well, today I am surrounded by what I miss most, the bonds shared between veterans, which is difficult to explain to those who have not experienced it. It is the shared commitment to serve something greater than yourself.”
After a recognition of the veterans, they took a voyage to Put-in-Bay and the Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial.
The event was spearheaded by past commodore David Mead, who couldn’t attend for health reasons, but was thanked by several speakers, including fellow past commodore Jeff Rolf.
"Last year we developed a humanitarian event we called Voyage For Veterans, to recognize local Veterans from the Ohio Veterans Home in Sandusky, Ohio. It went very well, so we decided to do it again, and make it a little better this year," Mead said by phone, just prior to the event. "Our Blue Gavel chapter wanted a method to give back to local Veterans while at the same time elevating the involvement of our Blue Gavel Past Commodores and our Catawba Island Club Yacht Club members in general."
Tracy Waskielis, activity therapy administrator for the Veterans Home, commented on the adjustments made since last year.
“I know because they have enhanced the program from last year, we were able to invite some more veterans. They had only been able to invite those who were ambulatory, but now those in wheelchairs were able to come,” Waskielis said.
Rolf led the event, in Mead's place, leading up to the honor walk to the “Gemini,” the yacht that took the veterans to Put-in-Bay.
"This means everything to me," Capretto said. "Anytime I can give back, I do. I tell all of these folks that one of the reasons I served is because of the example they set."
Capretto took time listening to stories from many of the veterans, like Pat Hansen, who was a nurse with the Air Force during the Vietnam era.
"She left the Air Force simply because they didn't make maternity uniforms back then," Capretto said. "Because she was pregnant and they didn't have uniforms, it's crazy to think about. It was a completely different time."
The Blue Gavel an International organization of Past Commodores from Yacht Clubs around the world. Their mission is to carry on yachting traditions while at the same time supporting humanitarian efforts.
The event included a reception at the Catawba island Club, a formal Honor Guard from the Port Clinton VFW Post 2480, a trip to Put-in-Bay on the Yacht Gemini, lunch onboard and dockage at the Crew’s Nest in Put-in-Bay, presentations from Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial and the North Coast Veterans Museum , among other things that rounded out the day.
Bob Symonds, a Vietnam veteran, former Marine and part of the committee that developed the event, summed up and echoed what many of the attendees, who filled the grand reception tent at the Catawba Island Club, said.
“I’m a vet, so I’m one of them. Any time I can help them out, I’m just so happy to do it,” Symonds said. “They inducted me into the Blue Gavel, which is made up of past commodores, and they had the idea to do something for veterans. I raised my hand. I said I’d like to be a part of that, and it’s turned out pretty nicely.”
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This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Voyage for Veterans
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