What’s going on in front of the Port O’Connor Community Center? Sand is piled up; people are forming it into shapes. If you’ve lived around here for a while, you know that’s the first sign of the upcoming Warrior’s Weekend, as master sculptors create their yearly tribute to our wounded soldiers. (And you are most welcome to stop by and help them with the work of creating this giant sand sculpture.)
The sand castle may be the first visible sign, but preparations for the annual Warrior’s Weekend have been going on all year, with organizers working towards an outstanding event that will show just how much we care for and appreciate those who have sacrificed so much.

The final local volunteers’ meeting was held in Port O’Connor on April 30, where 60 willing folks gathered to see what they could do to make the May 18-19 event run smoothly. And, there is plenty to do. This year approximately 425 to 450 wounded warriors will converge on Port O’Connor, expecting to enjoy a day of fishing, fun, and fellowship. They will get more than they expected.

“It’s not just the fishing,” says Ron Kocian, President of Warrior’s Weekend. “We hear from so many who want to return year after year because of the love, respect and honor they receive here.”

“This is the biggest event of its kind in the USA,” Ron said, “with soldiers from military bases all over the country being brought here.” On May 18, they fly in to Houston, where they receive an outstanding welcome. Then six busses, accompanied by many “honor guards” in vehicles and on motorcycles, will take them to Victoria where they will be joined by a bus from Fort Hood to arrive for the Dedication of the Field of Honor.

The Field of Honor, located at the corner of Sam Houston and Mockingbird in Victoria, consists of rows of hundred of flags paying tribute to all the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation’s security and freedom. The flag posting ceremony will be held on May 12 at 9:00 a.m. The flags will remain in place for public viewing through June 3 and the field is lighted at night.

Even more flags (over 7,000) will be on display in Port O’Connor. Each flag in this Field of Tribute represents a life sacrificed in the Global War on Terror. These flags will be put up on Wednesday, May 16 in the field by the Community Center. This is another area where volunteers are needed. If you would like to assist in this honorable task, just arrive there by 10:00 a.m. and ask where to start. If you’re not able to assist with the flags, you can help with decorating tables or installing booths inside the huge tent which will be set up on the grounds.

On Thursday, May 17, volunteers will meet at the Community Center around 10:00 a.m. to stuff bags for the fishing trip. There are also signs to put up at the dock, and preparations to be made for Friday evening’s night fishing at The Sanctuary. So there are many opportunities for local participation.

Soldiers and their families who arrive in Port O’Connor on Friday evening, May 18, will go straight to their lodgings and afterwards be treated to a fish fry at the Center. (Locals are providing 100 cakes for dessert. If you want to help with this, please call Kathy Yearwood at 983-2611.) They can then spend some time at the Center visiting and playing cards, or they can go fishing off the banks at The Sanctuary. This has proven to be a very popular activity, enjoyable for both those fishing and the folks who assist them.

Saturday morning, May 19,  the troops will enjoy a substantial breakfast, courtesy of our local churches. They will then board busses and join the busses arriving from Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio for the short ride to Froggie’s Bait Dock to board boats for their bay fishing trip.

Here’s where you can really join in the excitement! Be at Froggie’s around 9:00-9:30 a.m. and greet our heroes. They are always overwhelmed by the fantastic reception they receive. You can whoop and holler, wave your flag, and even shake hands and personally thank them. It is an experience you won’t forget. You will also be able to purchase Warrior’s Weekend shirts and memorabilia at the “PX” there, which opens at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, the 18th.

The fishing trip, courtesy of donated boats and generous captains/guides, can last until 4:00 p.m. Many soldiers want to fish to the very last minute, but many can’t stay out that long in the hot sun because of their wounds. Volunteers will be at the dock to filet and package each catch. “Each soldier wants his fish,” said Ron. So each package is labeled with the soldier’s name, placed in the appropriate cooler, iced down, and sent back with him. “Port O’Connor fish will end up in just about every state of the Union,” quipped Ron.

While soldiers are out fishing, there will be much going on at the Community Center to entertain and inform both children and adults. Around 6:00-6:30 the barbecue dinner will begin. Our heroes are served first, then the general public. Tickets can be purchased at Froggie’s or at the Community Center for $10 each; children 12 and under, $5. At the dinner Saturday evening, awards will be presented to the soldiers who caught the biggest fish.

The soldiers from Brook Army Medical Center will return after the dinner. Those remaining will again be treated to night fishing, if they so desire – and many do.

On Sunday morning, the Warrior’s Weekend organizers will serve breakfast to the remaining troops. They will then gather at the Field of Tribute for prayer. You are welcome to join them at the Field about 10:30 a.m. They will then return to their bases/hospitals throughout the country to resume their daily lives of treatments and coping with disabilities and wounds they received while serving our Country on behalf of all of us.

To learn more about Warrior’s Weekend, go to:

web.mac.com/warriorsweekend

Please see article, “Attention, Boat Owners” in this issue for more information.

Kids Free Fishing Tournament

Who: Ages 3-12
When: 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.— Register Upon Arrival at 9 a.m.
Where: King Fisher Beach Park (Front Beach)
Awards: Trophies and Ribbons Awarded for division and age category
Largest Fish – Most Fish – Smallest Fish
Every child will receive a gift from POC Chamber of Commerce.

Kite Flying Contest

Who: All Ages Welcome
Registration: 12:30 p.m.
When: Starting at 1:00 p.m.
Where: King Fisher Beach Park
Divisions: Homemade & Bought Kites
Awards: Trophies awarded by POC Chamber of Commerce.

Contact–361-983-2898 for Chamber events
Email- poccc@tisd.net
www.portoconnorchamber.org

POCSA’s Annual BBQ Cook-Off

Chopped Beef Sandwich Sales Begin at 11:00 a.m.

The Port O’ Connor Sports Association will be holding their ANNUAL BBQ COOK-OFF May 26th (Memorial Weekend) at Kingfisher Beach. This will be our fifth year to host the Cook-off, it is a lot of fun and a great way to get the community involved. Teams from all over will compete for a chance to win 1st place and “bragging rights” in six different catagories: beans, chili, gumbo, ribs, chicken, and brisket!!

We look forward to seeing familiar faces, and hope to add some new ones as well!!! We are NOT sanctioned, the BBQ COOK-OFF is strictly a “Friendly Competition” that is held to help the Port O’ Connor Sports Association raise money to help in building a Sports Complex behind the Community Center.

The Sports Association will also serve Chopped Beef Sandwiches on Saturday May 26th beginning at 11:00 a.m. until we run out!! So make plans to join us May 26th at Kingfisher Beach for some good food and a great time!!! If you are interested in competing in the COOK-OFF please contact Sylvia Rodriguez at 361-655-3521 or Amy Gosnell at 361-935-8745 or mail Entry Form to:
POCSA; Att: BBQ; P.O. Box 492; Port O’Connor, TX 77982:

P.O.C.S.A. 5th Annual Cook-Off at King Fisher Beach, May 26, 2012
ENTRY FORM

Team Name (limit 4 per team) ____________________________________________________________

Categories:

Brisket _____________ Chicken __________________ Chili ________________

Ribs ____________

Beans ______________ Gumbo _____________

1st entry – $25.00
2nd entry – $10.00
3rd or more, an additional $5.00

For information contact: Amy @ 361-935-8745 or Sylvia at 361-655-3521
POCSA; Att: BBQ; P.O. Box 492; Port O’Connor, TX 77982

Early Summer Begins To Arrive

Greetings from the island everyone; hope all of you are doing well. Please do not forget your wonderful mom on Mothers Day Sunday. Words cannot describe the love and admiration I have for my mother, Leona, and I look forward to spending the day with her and some of the family on the island Monday. Thank God for moms and Happy Mothers Day to all of you, including my second mom, Mauriece. And happy birthday to my sister, Sherry, on Sunday.

Well I’m slowly getting my island tan back after the mild winter months. The days are getting warmer and the sun brighter, limiting outside strenuous work to early morning and late evening times. I’ve got to constantly remind myself to apply sunscreen and wear a cap, neither of which I ever did in my younger years. I know of several old timers that are suffering from skin cancer because of their younger days of over exposure to the sun, so I’m doing my best to keep that from happening.

The tomato plants are doing quite well. I’m picking grape tomatoes from several plants that are just loaded down. I’m having to use three or four stakes on each plant to keep them from falling over, and they have a wonderful true tomato taste. I’m hoping for rain this week to keep the garden growing strong. I use well water for my garden, but it seems like a good drenching of rain really promotes great growth on all the vegetables.

Just this week I completed three raised beds using 2×12 boards and filled them with part island soil, top soil, chicken manure and compost made from seaweed. I’ve ordered eight thornless variety blackberry plants, and I’m hoping to get them started and do well out here. I just never know what plants will or will not make it out here until I try. Two of the blackberry plants will be the Doyle variety, advertised as one plant producing the equivalent of thirty normal blackberry plants. And for the price they cost they should do better; so we will see. The other six will be the Navaho thornless variety. It would be nice to one day walk out and pick fresh berries from the yard. Fingers crossed.

A few scattered flounder are starting to show up along the shoreline, returning from their Fall spawn migration into the Gulf. Always enjoyable to gig a few and have a delicious meal of fresh fried or blackened flounder.

A quick reminder to the boaters out there, especially the novice ones, to ALWAYS be prepared and exercise good judgment in crossing the bay, in particular during rough seas. Two friends of mine, Randi and Anna, (and the names have NOT been changed to protect the ill prepared), had a very close call while crossing a very rough Matagorda Bay in an overloaded pontoon boat with engine failure. Due to the high winds I could barely make out their cell phone call for help, but was able to race out and tow them to safety. The good news is that a valuable lesson was learned and they will not place themselves in that predicament again. All’s well that ends well.

Well that’s it from the island for now. Everyone have a great day and tell your mom that you love her.

Joy Fryou took this photo on the Gulf beach side of Matagorda Peninsual 4/25. The seagrass is coming in and the birds are finding all kids of critters to feed on! The big jetties are in the background.

The following article first appeared in Dolphin Talk in 1997.

We hope that for many of you, reading about them will bring back fond memories of these special folks, as we honor our mothers this Mother’s Day.

The above question was posed to 35 Port O’Connor residents, a cross-section of our population: store clerks, business owners, retired professionals, waitresses, fishermen and homemakers.

The most common response stated in various ways was “love and respect for others.” “My mother taught me to have respect for all people – to not prejudge others,” said Naomi Albrecht. “Always say ‘yes Ma’am, yes Sir, no Ma’m, no Sir,” said Lisa Blackman. Edward Lambright’s mother taught him “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

“Be loving and kind to others” was the lesson Irene Sorrow learned from her mother. A little twist of the ear let Irene know when she wasn’t following this Golden Rule. Dennis Raby’s mother taught him respect for others, not to interfere or cause trouble for others – the old adage “If you keep stirring a cow patty, you’ll soon get some on you.”

Bill Tigrett’s mother taught him respect and responsibility by giving them to him. At the age of eight, Bill became the “Man of the family.” His mother returned to school for her nursing degree and thereafter worked shift work. By age ten, Bill was shopping and cooking for the family and at 14 driving his mother and sister to and from work. “Mother would tell me how to do something once, and then be confident I could handle it – she had that much respect for me,” said Bill.

“Honesty” was the second on the list of most important things taught by mothers. “Always tell the truth, even if it hurts,” said Margaret Rogers. Ann Pesek said her mother always stressed honesty in dealing with others, relating it to the saying “What goes around, comes around.”

Several persons said the most important thing their mothers taught them was a belief in and love for God.

With nine children in the family, Rebeca Williams recalls the most important thing her mother had to say was “quit fussing.” Never talk back,” is embedded in Rose Smith’s memory. “Have a good attitude, express gratitude, say ‘thank you’,” says Vera McManus.

Kim Sonnier especially admires the gentleness of her mother. Kathy Emrick says her mother taught her loyalty.

Sarah Riley remembers her mother and a good friend would go on all day hikes with Sarah, a preschooler, tagging along. They would walk for hours, stopping to have a picnic lunch and returning home just in time to cook supper. Sarah’s mother kept up a walking regimen all her 89 years and Sarah says she has learned from that how important it is both mentally and physically to get out and walk.

Joane McDonough’s mother taught her “cleanliness is next to godliness.” “Smile – it doesn’t cost you anything,” June Pitonyak’s grandmother used to say.

Helen Neal remembers the advice her mother gave her when Helen, as a young mother, had to go to work in a bar to support herself and her child. “You can be a lady no matter where you are.”

And Dick Rogers still follows the most important advice his mother ever gave him: “Always have on clean underwear.”

If the reader would allow this writer a moment of personal indulgence, I would like to dedicate this article and this issue of The Dolphin to all the wonderful mothers who have gone on to their reward and, especially to my mother, Ima Christ Joachimi, a lady of few words, who taught by example lessons I’m still trying to learn: work hard; don’t complain; if you set your mind to it – you can do it.