What a Catch! Warrior’s Weekend X

Although once again battling the weather, Warrior’s Weekend X was successful thanks to our great donors and volunteers. Over 900 wounded heroes and caretakers took to the bays of Port O’Connor and Port Lavaca to enjoy a day to forget the cares of their wounds, surgeries and doctors’ appointments.

It is always so gratifying to see the 400 plus boats awaiting our heroes in front of Froggie’s or at the Sanctuary. Every year we worry a bit whether or not we will have the boats we need but they always sign up and show up. Thanks especially to Robert Sanders (Froggy) and his folks for putting up with the mess our heroes made trying to get in out of the rain and thanks so much to the gracious folks of the Sanctuary who make loading our heroes on boats so much more efficient. This is a very big team effort and it takes all of us to make it work.

You should be able to see more pictures of the event on our Facebook page, Warrior’s Weekend–Texas and shortly on our website, www.warriorsweekend.org. As you read this, we have already been involved in two fundraisers for next year and more are on the way. This is a must if we are to continue, and if you could hear the comments/compliments of the heroes, you would know we should.

There are many stories associated with Warrior’s Weekend and I will give you the “gist” of just one of them. We had a warrior who really wanted to attend—his first time—to honor his fallen battle buddy, Kerry Danyluk of Cuero. Little did he know that Kerry’s mom, Diane, flew all the way from South Dakota to attend Warrior’s Weekend in honor of her son and they got to meet. What a special time that was for both of them. The stories go on and on and keep us going on also.

As mentioned before, plans are underway for Warrior’s Weekend XI which will be held the weekend of 19-21 May of 2017. Our largest fundraiser in Victoria, the Muster, will be held on 25 March of 2017 but stay tuned for other opportunities to give/donate to this most worthy cause. We hope you were able to enjoy the sand sculpture and Warrior’s Weekend Field of Honor along with the weekend and please help us continue to let these heroes know that their service and sacrifice has not, and will not, be forgotten by the patriotic folks of South Texas.

We are always looking for good volunteers so please don’t hesitate to contact us and we’ll put you to work honoring those who deserve it the most as far as we are concerned.

Each flag represents a Warrior who gave all.

Loading up for a day of fishing at Warrior’s Weekend.

Photos by Mike Hessong

Warriors Weekend 2016 was a matchless success! More than 900 wounded veterans, modern day heroes, came from military bases, hospitals, rehabs centers, homes and communities across the country to enjoy a weekend of fun, food, fishing and friendship. These veterans, wounded in service for America, deserve more than our gratitude. Many of them have struggled…struggled to survive, to return, to be healthy and whole again, to find their way back into their families, communities and their former lives. This special weekend offers them a chance to connect with others who share a personal understanding of the struggles. It gives them a little hint of the appreciation many Americans feel for them and their sacrificial service. The experience presents many of them an opportunity to salt water fish for the first time, while others get outdoors and active for the first time in a long time of recovery. Hopefully it imparts to them a sense of joy and hope and renewed determination to face the struggles, conquer the hurdles and find what is next in life for them after their service. It was, as always, a privilege to share time, hear stories, trade smiles and hugs and handshakes, see the unbounded excitement of ‘fish-on’, hear the tales and experience the weekend with these men and women who may be some of the most unsung heroes in our nation. To them I am truly grateful.

While the sacrifice is negligible and the service small by comparison, there are some others that I really want to thank for making Warriors Weekend 2016 possible. I want to give a big hand to all the hands that make it happen. A year or more ago, the directors and leadership of Warriors Weekend.org began planning, fundraising, scheduling and organizing for this year’s event. They worked right up to the moment the defenders of freedom arrived and did not quit until well after they departed, as well as being cheerfully on…on call, on duty, on the carpet, on display, on task, on… the entire time of the event. Their unpaid work of love and commitment is a staggering load, especially when you realize they have lives, jobs, families and struggles of their own that do not stop or take a break just because it is Warriors Weekend. Without them this event would not be possible.

In addition, hundreds of volunteers from not only our area but across our state and even other places give of their time, their funds, their talents and abilities, offering their hands to help our warriors. More than 1,700 hands made cakes and cookies, 500 hands cooked and grilled, prepped and packaged; and more than 2,000 hands made coffee, poured milk, juice, tea, and coffee, cut pies and stirred salads, set up tables and chairs, took out trash and washed dishes. Some were old and used to hard work, some were young and eager to serve, many were hands that served in more than one location.

400+ hands kept us safe and secure as they directed traffic and managed security, hundreds of hands flew planes, drove buses, cars, vans, trucks, golf carts and other vehicles, at least 500 hands fueled boats and prepped fishing equipment, 250+ hands cleaned fish and packaged filets for travel home with warriors. 300 or more hands got sandy to make art that honored and more than 400 hands shot pictures and videos that report, commemorate and celebrate the highlights of the weekend.
A 100 or more hands massaged and masseused while others offered first aid and healing assistance as needed. Many offered homes and beds and bunks their hands made ready. Young hands cheered and old hands clapped, child hands made cards and senior hands waved flags, some injured hands cracked eggs and some dirty hands moved dirt and woodchips to manage the mud. Some imprisoned hands volunteered and counted it a privilege.

To all those hands and the giving hearts they represent I say THANK YOU EACH AND EVERY ONE! I pray you found it a blessing in return multiplied a hundred times over to come, to serve, to offer your hands in whatever way you can to honor and thank and support our heroes.

Warriors Weekend is a huge event, but in the end, it is about the little things. It’s about the hand up, the hand out, the hands on and all hands on deck, the hand of friendship you extend and the hand of encouragement you offer. No hand is too big, none too small, none too unskilled to make a difference. When the task is big, many hands make the labor light and the task joyful. I hope your hands of service brought you joy, because I know they brought joy to those you served.
Wash up, file your nails or get your patriotic polish ready as we would like to reserve your serving hands in advance for next year.

CMO MARKET SALE – Saturday, June 25, starting at 7:30 am

Dick’s Food Store, Seadrift

All kinds of sweets, including pineapple upside-down cake, hommade kolaches (taking orders for large amounts), beer bread, healthy breakfast cookies.

Candied Jalepeños, Jalapeño Jelly, Pickled Beets, Home canned Sauerkraut

Please visit us and make a purchase or donation to this awesome group:
Combat Marine Outdoors

-Mary Hodges

Combat Marine Outdoors Fishing Trip in Seadrift

While POC celebrated Warriors Weekend 2016, a celebration of another kind was happening at the Welder Cliburn Ranch just southwest of Seadrift. About 20 combat wounded veterans from Army, Navy and the Marines were fishing, fellowshipping and recovering together.

Combat Marine Outdoors (CMO) serves veterans who would find the larger event difficult or even impossible. These vets are still in the process of recovery, just making the transition from hospital or rehab and need extra help and smaller venues. The 20 vets who participated this year flew in on Thursday, received a welcome procession and made a visit to the Seadrift School to speak with small groups of students about their experiences. They fished out of Seadrift with designated guides who donated their time and expertise and spent preparation time to be prepared for their unique outing on both Friday and Saturday.

Combat Veterans stayed at the beautiful quarters of the Cliburn Ranch and were treated to great food, campfire therapy, fishing outings and a gala banquet on Saturday evening complete with gourmet food, a ceremony honoring a highly decorated senior veteran and live music provided by a western band.

It is a very intimate setting and they are protected from crowds, media and pressure. This is a time for them to feel secure and connected away from hospital settings, and to enjoy the outdoors. Camaraderie, friendship and fellowship associated with the retreat have healing properties well beyond the event or the hospital settings and many have experienced a turning point in their recovery afterwards.

The fishing and seasonal hunting trips offered to combat wounded veterans by CMO are once in a lifetime chances at some world-class locations and destinations, and the companionship provides these heroes with a demonstration of just a portion of Americans’ support and appreciation for their sacrifice and service. Many leave with a new hope and sense of belonging as they face reintegration into family, community and society.

Combat Marines Outdoors was founded in 2005 after the founding veterans and their friend Rusty Hicks visited Marines and sailors at Brooke Army Medical Center for several months. Retired Marine Colonel Orr, Rusty Hicks, who is an honorary marine as declared by Colonel Dunford in 2015, and retired Marine MGySgt A. Garcia were the big dreamers who came up with the idea of helping traumatically wounded vets by getting them outdoors together, and in just months made it happen. These ‘founding fathers’ of the project remain vitally involved and interact with each vet served by the program. But, wow, has the dream grown.

They have served veterans from every branch, almost 2,000 traumatically wounded combat veterans to date at around 50 different locations. Their website, Combatmarineoutdoors.org, tells of their impressive fundraising, their specially scheduled television broadcasts of expressly selected outings on outdoor channels and networks including TNT, their numerous recognitions and awards and shares heartfelt testimonials from the veterans they have gotten ‘back outdoors.’

Most impressive by far is their commitment to helping the veterans they serve achieve a sense of accomplishment, a hope for healing and experience the adventure of a lifetime hunting or fishing their way to a tomorrow many only hoped and dreamed about before their contact with Combat Marines Outdoors.

Plentiful Rains Turn The Island Green

Greetings from the island everyone. Hope all of you are doing well and enjoyed your Memorial Day weekend, never forgetting to honor those that paid the ultimate sacrifice for our great country. . a country that has always been great, and always will be.

And don’t forget that Fathers Day is but a few more days away. Whether your dad is still with you or in heaven, take the time to visit with or talk to him, letting him know just how much he means to you, and the positive differences he has brought to your life. So many times we neglect to tell special people just how wonderful they are, whether by voice or words. The written appreciative and caring word, whether by letter or card or messaging, is a powerful thing. . take advantage of it.

Ok Lord, I’m pretty sure we have had an abundance of rain now, let’s turn off the sky faucet for awhile, please. At one point last week, the island had received nearly 16” of rain in 21 days, saturating the ground and making a mess of the makeshift roads. The bay water in the lagoons and along the shoreline stayed a dark brown from all of the excess runoff. Just when it appeared that the skies were clearing for at least a few days, another large orange and red cell would pass over, dropping another several inches. And I know it’s not just been out here, but everyone has gotten an unusual amount of rain the past month. It always seems as though it’s feast or famine with our rainfall lately. But famine sounds pretty good right now, for at least a few weeks.

The deluge of rain has certainly greened up the island though, and kick-started my late planted raised bed garden areas. The tomato plants (several over 7’ tall), and watermelon and cantaloupes have shot up and out since the rains, and my recently planted peach trees are looking very good. And I don’t know about everyone else’s, but my fig trees are loaded down this year as well. I’m assuming the rains have helped them also, and I’m already eating sweet ripe figs from my oldest tree of six years. The plumeria and Esperanza are also doing great, and the two beautiful Norfolk pine trees, one of which is now exactly 19’ tall, just keep growing.

Of course with all the rain and standing water comes the dreaded devil mosquitoes. As with anywhere else, they get really bad during these times on the island, and there are no mosquito sprayer trucks to fog the area and help out. So I just soak down with the most probable cancer laced deet, and hang in there until the grounds dry up and the little demons die off.

The beach has been inundated with debris from all of the rivers flooding lately. Mostly large dead trees and limbs are scattered along the four mile stretch of beach, making weekend bonfires a common sight on the island. Over time the debris will sift into the beach sand and disappear, helping with the erosion, which is an ongoing battle on this barrier island, both on the beach and bay side. But such is life on the island, you simply accept the bad with the good.

Well that’s it from the island for now, everyone take care and hopefully enjoy some extended days of beautiful sunshine.