Cadets from MAST, the Marine Academy of Science and Technology, will be among the volunteers at the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Harbor Saturday, May 18, to assist Fins for Freedom in providing a day of fun, recreation and offshore fishing for military members and veterans.
“They want to show their appreciation and respect to veterans, and since so many of the cadets will be entering the military themselves, they want to spend some time with the vets and ask about their service.,” said Commander Tracie Smith-Yeoman, senior naval instructor at MAST, where every student is a member of the NJROTC.
Fins for Freedom is in its third year of providing a fishing day on private boats for veterans, following a breakfast at the Seniors Center at the Yacht Harbor and a dinner after the event at Off the Hook. The non-profit organization has received support from dozens of boaters and their captains who volunteer their craft and seamanship to help make the day happen. Numerous other organizations, businesses and individuals also provide gifts and monetary donations to enable the non-profit organization to continue to offer the popular program which can accommodate up to 100 veterans in a variety of vessels.
The MAST cadets volunteered to assist when they heard about the program from Dan Brady of Atlantic Highlands, one of the principals of Fins for Freedom. They will begin the day May 18 setting up the breakfast foods, serving the vets, and engaging them in conversation to create a nice, friendly environment. They will also direct the vets from the senior center after breakfast to each of the docks where the boats are docked.
Smith-Yeoman pointed out there are added benefits to having the cadets volunteer. “Our cadets receive their New Jersey Boater Safety licenses during their sophomore year at MAST, and since all of our cadets go out many times each year on our 65-foot research vessel, our cadets would be able to crew the boats if the need arose.”
In return the cadets will receive a better understanding of how much veterans have given of themselves to our country. “Even if all veterans may not have seen combat, they volunteered to serve. Especially for those who joined after 9/11, they knew the chance of going to a combat zone was very high, but they signed up to serve anyway,” the retired naval officer said. “Everyone needs to understand it is important to thank the vets for their service. It’s the right thing to do and our cadets appreciate the opportunity,” she said.
“This is the first time our cadets will be volunteering with Fins For Freedom, so it is the start of what I know will be a long and rewarding relationship,” the commanding officer of the unit continued. She cited the many different ways the cadets volunteer in communities throughout the area, including reading to toddlers in a local daycare, planting flags on veterans’ graves, cleaning up the beaches and paths of Fort Hancock and Sandy Hook, as well as in churches and synagogues and do yard work for elderly neighbors. “Our cadets do wonderful work all over the community!” Smith-Yeoman said. “We are honored to work with Fins For Freedom and we truly appreciate what the members of that organization do for our veterans. They are local heroes offering a momentous day of fishing and camaraderie to America’s heroes and we are happy to support them.”
For information on donations to Fins for Freedom and for veterans to join the day of fishing and recreation, visit Finsforfreedom.org.
For information on donations to Fins for Freedom and for veterans to join the day of fishing and recreation, visit Finsforfreedom.org.
