In the summer of 2008 something very ordinary occurred on Lake of the Woods: 30 people went muskie fishing.
At the same time, it was extraordinary. You see, 20 of the fishermen were military veterans enjoying a true trip of lifetime; they were hosted for a week at Walsh’s Baystore Camp where they went fishing with 10 of the top guides in the world.
Dick Pearson, Doug Johnson, and Frank Walsh along with Army veteran Bret Wold organized “Operation Muskie” as a way to say thank-you to veterans who had served wartime deployments overseas. Baystore Camp donated the space, the 10 guides donated their time, and with the help of donations both large and small the veterans were able to enjoy the trip completely free.
http://www.operationmuskie.org/
I was fortunate enough to be one of the veterans on the trip, and it was an unbelievable experience. The fishing was great, but that barely begins to describe the feeling of the event – the camaraderie of muskie fishermen and military vets made it truly special.
At the end of last year’s event, all of the guides and organizers immediately volunteered their services for the summer of 2009. Unfortunately the economic times since then have meant that the kinds of major corporate gifts that funded things last year are very hard to find this year. The costs of gas, food, and other essentials are expensive for a group of this size.
That’s where you come in – I’m asking for your help to make sure that Operation Muskie happens again this year and benefits a new group of 20 veterans.
If you’re interested in information on how you can help, please go to http://www.operationmuskie.org or contact me at [email protected]. Thank you.
