'I love to give back': Volunteers make annual fishing trip for Veterans a special day
When it comes to supporting Veterans, it’s hard to beat what Port Washington does every year for the Disabled Veterans Fishing Outing.
For more than 50 years, volunteers from all parts of the community have come together to make the day as memorable as possible for Veterans served by the Milwaukee VA Medical Center.
And it was no different on Wednesday, as Port Washington once again mustered its forces and made for another amazing day on the lake.
“A lot of us have been doing this for 10, 20, 30 years,” said event chairman Ed Dyson. “We always ask for volunteers, but people already know about it. It’s great that everybody comes out and pitches in.”
Tony Wagner, recreation therapy program manager at the Milwaukee VA Medical Center who organizes the event at the hospital, is especially thankful for those volunteers.
“The people here are awesome. It’s a passion of theirs,” he said. “The community of Port Washington really comes together for this. Everyone is here. So much happens (behind the scenes). I can’t say thank you enough to Port Washington.”
On Wednesday, 65 Veterans benefited from Port Washington’s kindness, as volunteer boat captains took them out on the lake.
The morning began with cloud cover that eventually dissipated, making for a sun-spattered day on the lake. Veterans reeled in coho salmon, rainbow trout and other fish. One Veteran caught five fish. Many caught none.
But even those who returned to land empty handed came back with smiles.
“It was great,” said Army Veteran Otis Johnson, 78, who said he hadn’t been on a boat since 1965 and hadn’t been fishing since 1958. “I don’t care about catching a fish.”
His boatmate Steven Schenk, 58, also an Army Veteran, agreed.
“A bad day of fishing is better than a good day of work,” he said with a laugh. “This is the best field trip of the summer.”
Wagner said the therapeutic benefits of the outing were evident.
“Did you see their faces when they got on and off the boats? That was really cool,” he said.
All the fish caught by the Veterans was prepped, smoked and sealed before being shipped back to the medical center, where it will be used in meals for Veteran patients. If there’s too much, it’s donated to shelters and food banks.
But the day didn’t end when the boats docked and the fish were cleaned. All were invited to a buffet luncheon at American Legion Post 82 that included a fish boil, salmon, smoked fish, brats, burgers, potato salad, fruit and a dessert table stuffed with all manner of sweet treats.
At the picnic tables, the Veterans swapped stories about the ones that got reeled in and the ones that got away. Awards were given for the biggest fish.
As American Legion Auxiliary members served the food and students from local schools gave a helping hand to Veterans with mobility issues, volunteers from Laborers Local 113 out of Milwaukee manned the grills and stoked the fish boil kettles.
Union members from throughout southeastern Wisconsin volunteered at the event, according to union member Chris Olig, who noted that the union raises between $7,000 and $10,000 each year to support the event.
“I’m proud to say our donations have grown every year,” he said. “It’s a wonderful cause. It’s great to hang out for the day with the Vets. Every year we look forward to this. We want to give back to those who sacrificed so much.”
Dyson said that sentiment is true for many of the volunteers.
“They are patriotic people who like to help out,” he said.
That was the case for first-year boat captain Russell Bradley.
“I wasn’t able to serve my country, so anything I can do to help out is worth it,” he said. “I love to give back to my country.”