Thanks in large part to our local volunteers in all of Calhoun County, especially Port O’Connor, Warrior’s Weekend V was successful beyond our greatest expectations. Warrior’s Weekend hosted 362 wounded heroes, including some command, plus over 150 family members on May 20-22nd this year. The reports from the heroes, especially on Warrior’s Weekend Facebook page and by email, have been tremendous—they all want to come back.

One can only get in trouble by trying to thank everyone in Port O’Connor and the surrounding area who contributed, but certain ones really stand out. Of course, the good folks at Froggie’s Bait Dock—our Port O’Connor base and home port to a veteran himself, Robert “Froggie” Sanders—have to be named at the top of any list of folks to thank. They allow our Warrior’s Weekend crew of Kelly Parks and Russell Hofer to take over the whole place for several days each year to welcome our heroes, weigh and clean their fish. What a sight that is each year as the charter buses arrive—this year, 13 of them—to a cheering crowd at Froggie’s. Robert, along with Clark’s and Boathouse Bait supply the bait for our heroes and Warrior’s Weekend would not be the same without their help.

We have to single out Tigrett Real Estate and the great work done by those fine patriots including Valerie, Bill, Leah and the whole gang, who, along with Connie Rowney of POC, helped get many of our heroes and their families into much needed lodging. Also, the Port O’Connor Volunteer Fire Department and EMS, along with Calhoun County Fire Department & EMS did a whale of a job and were there for us all along. Wasn’t our 20’X30’ American flag flying from the fire truck a beautiful sight! Thanks also to all of you, especially the school children, who put out over 6,030 flags in the Field of Tribute, one for every life lost in the War on Terror. Sadly, that number has already grown and will be added to next year.

This year, for the first time, we added night fishing to our heroes’ agenda and it too was a great success. Reece & Linda Hundley and their team did a tremendous job for the heroes and we expect that to grow next year. The Sanctuary provided a beautiful venue for this part of Warrior’s Weekend and the heroes caught a lot of fish there and loved it.

Also this year, we had such a great response from heroes wanting to attend Warrior’s Weekend that we had to enlist as much lodging as possible. This year, Falcon Point Ranch provided lodging for many of our heroes at their beautiful Lodge and Bunkhouse. Of course, our usual locations of 10th Street Lodge, The Inn at Clark’s, Captains’ Quarters (both POC and Seadrift), American Inn and Suites, The Lodge at Port O’Connor, and St. Christopher’s Suites also provided discounts on lodging for Warrior’s Weekend. For the first time in our five year history, we even kept heroes and their families in Port Lavaca at the new Holiday Inn Express. When you lodge over 200 heroes plus many family members, it takes a total effort by the community and we get it. Thanks also to the many folks who own homes in POC and donated either their homes or rooms within their homes for the effort.

Of course, a huge part of Warrior’s Weekend is the armada of boats—this year, over 200 of them—and their captains and crew who volunteer to take our heroes fishing. If you were a part of a team, on behalf of our heroes, our board and volunteers, thank you. We don’t need to say that we couldn’t do it without you. I think you will agree that our boat committee did a great job of getting our heroes on the boats in a very timely manner as well as getting them off the boats and getting their fish weighed and cleaned.

Pastor Erny McDonough and the Fisherman’s Chapel provided breakfast on Saturday morning, the 21st, for our overnight heroes, as well as a meeting place for our Volunteer Meeting in POC. What a tremendous asset they are. Also, our thanks go out to the POC Service Club who provided deserts for our heroes and Kathy Yearwood and Grady Jean Clark who decorated the POC Community Center for all to enjoy. Shuttle buses provided by Calhoun County ISD and The Heritage Center in Port Lavaca were essential in getting our heroes and public around the area. Thanks also to the POC Chamber of Commerce, Calhoun County Commissioners Court, Sheriff B.B. Browning and especially Kenny Finster (including April in his office) and Judge Nancy Pomykal.

Last but not least, Warrior’s Weekend wants to thank our friends at the Dolphin Talk and the Port Lavaca Wave. Joyce Rhyne and the Dolphin Talk have always been there for Warrior’s Weekend and Carrie McCandless of The Wave rode the buses from Houston for her report.

So, if you assisted in any way to make Warrior’s Weekend V the success it was, thanks. If we forgot to thank someone, please forgive us, but you know why you helped. Let’s do it again, but bigger next year, OK? We want to touch as many of our heroes’ lives as we can. It starts with Warrior’s Weekend Slam and Jam Fishing Tournament and Concert at the POC Community Center, June 17th and 18th, with many bands and featuring Kevin Fowler as our lead entertainer on Saturday night, the 18th. Tickets are $20 per person, 13 and older, and may be purchased at the gate either Friday or Saturday. One ticket is good for both nights of entertainment. Go to slamandjam.net to sign your team up to compete for over $15,000 in prize money or for more information. Look out Port O’Connor, we’re coming back at ‘ya!