Despite a somewhat soggy summer to date, a free fishing trip for veterans that was organized by the Mercury Marine Military Veterans Network and the Fond du Lac chapter of Fishing Has No Boundaries was held Saturday under sunny skies and on smooth water. The event provided free meals, fishing and souvenirs for 21 veterans in the Fond du Lac area, many of whom have combat-related disabilities or wounds.
Veterans who participated in the event expressed gratitude for the opportunity to get out on the water, and some veterans said they had not been able to fish in years. One participant stated that fishing locally on small rivers had been an option in the past, but not on a big lake where he “could catch walleye and other larger fish,” according to Tracy Qualmann, board member of Fishing Has No Boundaries.
M3VN and Fishing Has No Boundaries hope to make the veterans fishing trip an annual event in addition to other collaborative events for veterans and service members in the Fond du Lac community, according to Joseph Jakubicz, M3VN member and fishing event co-organizer.
“This chance to partner with Mercury gave Fond du Lac Fishing Has No Boundaries the opportunity to expand our reach to another population,” Qualmann said. “Together, we developed this experience for veterans in our community. Being part of this collaboration is truly humbling and our board is excited to continue this partnership.”
By: Brunswick
