FishingThey spent time over bagels and coffee in the Senior Citizens building to learn each other’s names, meet the captains of their boats, and compare stories of fish they never caught. But by the end of the day, the more than 80 men and women veterans of every war since Korea had traded e-mail and phone addresses and boasted and showed photos about the striped bass they caught and had to toss back in the ocean, the blue fish that would be dinner that night…and thrill of a day whose memory will stay with them forever. Fishing Fishing Fishing Fishing Fishing Fishing
It was Fins for Freedom who planned, organized, raised the funds and sought out boat captains who eagerly gave their boats, fuel, time, and expertise to be part of a program that brings aqua therapy to men and women who have served in our armed forces.
Fins for Freedom also accepted the aid of cadets from MAST, the Marine Academy of Science and Technology, many of whose students will be going on to attend colleges under ROTC scholarships and military academies including both the Coast Guard and Space Force, and spending time in the military themselves, spent the morning under personnel from Fins for Freedom greeting the fishermen, signing them in, helping with breakfast, then escorting or leading them to their crafts, scattered over the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Harbor’s five piers. That’s where the veterans, in groups of three to six, met each of their individual boat captains and crafts, learned the rules of that particular captain, then settled in for a day of relaxation, friendship, and fishing. Fishing Fishing
At the end of a phenomenally successful day, even for those who had never fished before, captains, crew, other volunteers and fishermen met at On the Deck Restaurant to talk about their day and the benefits they got from it. On the Deck closed the restaurant Saturday night in order to honor the private party of anglers who will never forget their experience. Fishing Fishing Fishing Fishing
Mike Marinac, president of the non-profit Fins for Freedom, brought his entire family to help make the day the success it was. He and his wife were both at the Senior Citizens with the MAST cadets at 6 Saturday morning, preparing everything for the veterans and instructing the cadets in how to register the anglers and then take them to their boats at the piers. The couple’s two daughters, Charlotte and Lexie, 6 and 5 years old, were undaunted by the early hour and eagerly rushed back and forth carrying supplies from one place to another, emptying garbage and in general doing whatever they could to keep the transition running smooth.
Six-year-old Charlotte, a first-grade student at Middletown Village, said she wanted to be there because she was helping people and thought it was the right thing to do. She said she knew each of the fishermen had served the country in some way so she felt she should help them when she could. Her sister Lexie, a five-year-old who goes to Prime Time in Belford, agreed with Charlotte and nodded her head happily when asked if she would do it again.
Eight MAST students were among those working throughout the morning. They volunteered for the program after Junior Tyler Terhune of Tinton Falls, who is the commander of A Company at MAST, organized the group of five seniors and three juniors, many of whom have already been awarded college ROTC scholarships. Terhune, of Tinton Falls, Carter Braun of Middletown and Thomas Clark of Little Silver were the juniors at the program, seniors were Brandon Weiss of Oceanport, who earned an Army scholarship to the University of Miami, Ronan Alo, Keansburg, Cornel University scholarship, Calvin Tern of Middletown, a Navy ROTC scholarship to Cornell, Ananya Vuppala of Marlboro an Air Force Scholarship to Yale with the Space Force, and Gerard Flynn of Eatontown, a scholarship the US Merchant Marine Academy. Commander Tracie Smith Yeoman, chief of Naval Science at MAST also said as a volunteer, said volunteering for Fins for Freedom gave the students headed for military life an opportunity to meet with veterans and learn more about their experiences.
Twenty-six owners of private boats volunteered their boats and trips for the day.
Dan Brady, who is treasurer of Fins for Freedom, and Marvin both showed appreciation for how the program has grown in the past three years, thanks to the generosity of so many businesses and individuals including the boat owners. When it first started it was an informal idea Marinac had with his friends when they took a few veterans for the day; last year there were between 40 and 50 veterans who took the trip and this year there were more than 80. The friend who started the idea with Marinac are Kevin Noal, Jackson, Paul Hewitt, John Nolan, Bill Carle and Paul Novello.
Persons wishing to donate to Fins of Freedom to continue the program can visit their website at FinsforFreedom.org.
Some of the major companies supporting the program include SSA Atlantic, Ports America, Stevedoring, Jersey Shore Marine Group at Oceanport Landing, West Gulf Maritime Association, Thomas Contracting, Ghanem Forwarding, Sallaum Lines, Red Hook Terminals, SDA (Sport Drinking Apparel), Candid Logistics, LLC, Kuratli Photography, Plan B Promotions,, Auto Export Shipping, Inc., McAllister, and NORAD, world class processing.
AmericanWarriorOutdoors.org,is also a staunch supporter of the program, and assists veterans and their families through organizing and providing outdoor programs for continued health and comradeship.
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