There were few fish caught, but that isn’t what veterans were thinking when they gathered together for support at On the Deck with their new friends, captains of more than two dozen boats that volunteered to take close to 100 veterans out for a day of fishing.
In the program marking its fifth year this year, Fins for Freedom officers said this has been the absolutely best year yet and expresses great thanks to On the Deck as well as numerous other businesses and individuals who helped make the day the success it was for all veterans. Fins for Freedom treasurer Dan Brady said it from statistics he gathered, it seems that more than 60 percent of the veteran fishermen had never been out for a day’s fishing in the Atlantic Ocean before this year’s trip.
Brady also praised the numerous businesses and local persons who donated basket gifts or monetary or gift cards so that in a drawing at the end of the day, every veteran received a gift which included everything from gift tickets to movies or restaurants to handmade fishing poles.
There was one unique coincidence that drew applause from the fishermen, a few tears from one retired sailor and a lot of laughs.
A local resident had donated a basket for the drawing, saying she was giving the gift to honor an active-duty sailor, Lieutenant Angus Yeoman of Bayville, whose mother was brought up in Highlands. Yeoman, a graduate of the University of South Carolina, recently completed aviation classes at Pensacola in Florida and is a helicopter pilot in the US Navy.
His parents were among the veterans on the Fins for Freedom outing. Tracie Smith-Yeoman and her husband Chris, both Navy veterans who have given more than 42 years to the service, were on their first Fins for Freedom outing and praising not only the founders of Fins for Freedom but all the residents and businesses who had donated so much to make the day perfect.
When Brady made the announcement of the gift honoring their son, he said it was only right that the Yeomans present the gift to the lucky veteran.
Coincidentally, the winner of the gift, an Army veteran, laughed and thanked them saying how much it meant to him. Like Lieutenant Yeoman, he, too, was a helicopter pilot when he was serving on active duty.
Fins for Freedom is already planning and preparing for next year’s event. Anyone who wants to participate, either by helping the day of the event, making a donation, or offering a boat and captain for the day’s outing can visit Fins for Freedom and learn the numerous ways they can show their appreciation for all veterans. Contacts can be made by visiting Fins for Freedom.org, searching info@finsforfreedom.com or calling (904) 616-3101.
Officers of Fins for Freedom are Mike Mavrnac, president, Jake Campi, vie-president and Brady, treasurer.
Fins for Freedom is a NJ Nonprofit Corporation organized under the laws of the State in.. 2023 whose address is 27 Devon Rd., Middletown, NJ 07748.
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