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Editor:
The Leavenworth Bass Club is hosting its third annual Fishing For Freedom event Oct. 8 and 9 at Truman Lake in Missouri.
Fishing For Freedom is modeled after other bass tournaments — anglers are paired, there is a blast off at a designated start time, competitors fish for a certain amount of time, and at the end of the day a weigh-in is conducted to decide the winners.
But that is where Fishing For Freedom and any other bass tournament similarities end. Fishing For Freedom is an all-volunteer event that pairs local and regional bass angling boat owners with Global War on Terrorism veterans and wounded warriors from all over the region. Volunteers from Nebraska, Illinois, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas will be represented at this year’s event.
The American heroes come from all over the Midwest and South as well, with warriors participating from Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth, Kan.; Fort Leonard Wood and Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo.; Fort Polk, La.; and Fort Hood, Texas, just to name a few. This event is all about having a good time in the outdoors in an attempt to show these warriors how much we appreciate their service and sacrifice.
Fishing For Freedom provides an all-expense-paid weekend for these warriors that begins with a pretournament banquet Oct. 8 and culminates with a buddy bass tournament Oct. 9. Each warrior participant receives a rod and reel, and tackle box full of tackle from event sponsors. Meals are provided for both warriors and volunteers. Additionally, each warrior’s lodging for the weekend is paid for by sponsorship and donations. Plaques are presented to the top 10 teams and for big bass honors.
On Sunday, the warriors and their assigned boaters meet before daylight for breakfast. As dawn breaks, a parade of boats pass through the launch point and anglers head out for their day of fishing, the physical and psychological challenges from multiple combat tours are not the thoughts on the warriors’ minds this day. Fishing For Freedom provides these heroes an opportunity to forget about the last deployment or next therapy session and allows the participants to focus on catching fish and having some fun.
These all-volunteer warriors have made enormous sacrifices to defend our freedom, and members of the Leavenworth Bass Club feel that hosting a weekend for these warriors is the least they can do to thank them. Fishing For Freedom relies totally on organizations and volunteers to donate their time, money and resources to provide these warriors with this experience. But most of all, it’s the smiles, laughter, cherished memories and new friendships that endure.
The Truman Lake Fishing For Freedom event began in 2009 with 30 teams of participants and has grown to be able to support 125 warriors in 2011.
In these tough economic times, finding boat owners who can dedicate a weekend to take a hero fishing can be challenging. Interested warriors and volunteer boat owners who would like participate in the 2011 Fishing for Freedom event are asked to visit the website at http://fishingforfreedom.us for additional information. All event registrations will be conducted through the website.
Larry Stoafer
Leavenworth Bass Club
Editor:
The Leavenworth Bass Club is hosting its third annual Fishing For Freedom event Oct. 8 and 9 at Truman Lake in Missouri.
Fishing For Freedom is modeled after other bass tournaments — anglers are paired, there is a blast off at a designated start time, competitors fish for a certain amount of time, and at the end of the day a weigh-in is conducted to decide the winners.
But that is where Fishing For Freedom and any other bass tournament similarities end. Fishing For Freedom is an all-volunteer event that pairs local and regional bass angling boat owners with Global War on Terrorism veterans and wounded warriors from all over the region. Volunteers from Nebraska, Illinois, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas will be represented at this year’s event.
The American heroes come from all over the Midwest and South as well, with warriors participating from Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth, Kan.; Fort Leonard Wood and Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo.; Fort Polk, La.; and Fort Hood, Texas, just to name a few. This event is all about having a good time in the outdoors in an attempt to show these warriors how much we appreciate their service and sacrifice.
Fishing For Freedom provides an all-expense-paid weekend for these warriors that begins with a pretournament banquet Oct. 8 and culminates with a buddy bass tournament Oct. 9. Each warrior participant receives a rod and reel, and tackle box full of tackle from event sponsors. Meals are provided for both warriors and volunteers. Additionally, each warrior’s lodging for the weekend is paid for by sponsorship and donations. Plaques are presented to the top 10 teams and for big bass honors.
On Sunday, the warriors and their assigned boaters meet before daylight for breakfast. As dawn breaks, a parade of boats pass through the launch point and anglers head out for their day of fishing, the physical and psychological challenges from multiple combat tours are not the thoughts on the warriors’ minds this day. Fishing For Freedom provides these heroes an opportunity to forget about the last deployment or next therapy session and allows the participants to focus on catching fish and having some fun.
These all-volunteer warriors have made enormous sacrifices to defend our freedom, and members of the Leavenworth Bass Club feel that hosting a weekend for these warriors is the least they can do to thank them. Fishing For Freedom relies totally on organizations and volunteers to donate their time, money and resources to provide these warriors with this experience. But most of all, it’s the smiles, laughter, cherished memories and new friendships that endure.
The Truman Lake Fishing For Freedom event began in 2009 with 30 teams of participants and has grown to be able to support 125 warriors in 2011.
In these tough economic times, finding boat owners who can dedicate a weekend to take a hero fishing can be challenging. Interested warriors and volunteer boat owners who would like participate in the 2011 Fishing for Freedom event are asked to visit the website at http://fishingforfreedom.us for additional information. All event registrations will be conducted through the website.
Larry Stoafer
Leavenworth Bass Club
