Eight combat Wounded Warriors were treated to an all expenses paid weekend of fishing, food and fun courtesy of Jackson Hill's Patriots Challenge and local volunteer fisherman. The event started out with overcast and breezy conditions on Saturday and continued Sunday with a good spinner bait bite for most of the teams while others reported baby brush hogs, senko's and lizards were all working as most fish were in or near shallow water spawning areas or just off main and secondary points for most of the day. Several of our Heroes had little or no fishing experience and for them the steady action in shallow water was particularly exciting. Perry Curry of Broaddus had Abu "Pacman" Pakrawan as his Hero co-angler and enjoyed showing him just how exciting fishing for bass on Big Sam Rayburn can be. "It is really fun to take out someone who has never fished before and to watch how excited they get" Curry said. Jayson Legg currently stationed at Fort Polk was blown away by the entire weekend. He said that it was hard to express how grateful he was not just for the fishing, but for the way everyone treated them as if they were family." I just can't express what this has meant to me personally and to the other guys lucky enough to be here at Jackson Hill" he said. "Many people talk about supporting the troops, but all of the people involved with this event have bent over backwards to make sure that everyone of us have a great time".
The event was hosted by Terry and Connie Sympson from Jackson Hill and Robert "Buck" Collins and Chuck Williams from the Wounded Warrior Association of East Texas. The entire group of Heroes and their Boaters were treated to a rib eye steak dinner on Saturday night and included some prize drawings for donated items. " Weekends like this allow these guys to sit around and talk with other people who are going through similar difficulties weather it is recovering from the physical or emotional scars of war or the hardships faced trying to transition from warrior to civilian" said Buck collins who had to face months of therapy from traumatic brain injuries himself. "Talking with each other brings out so many issues and helps to release the fear that we all face from our unique experiences. I don't know why being out fishing and just hanging together in the outdoors works so quickly and is so therapeutic, but it really does. Collins added "Lifetime memories and friendships help us heal inside and out and I am so grateful to all of the boaters who have spent their time and money to take us fishing and offer us their knowledge and friendship, it means so much to all of us". to see more about this event you can go to Jackson Hill Marina on facebook.
The Patriots Challenge is a program of Jackson Hill Park and Marina and a growing Network of Sponsors, Partners, Volunteers and Organizations that work together to provide greater understanding, appreciation and access to the Natural Resources of Deep East Texas and Sam Rayburn Lake. Their purpose is to do economic good for the local lake communities and to do social good by raising funds and offering outdoor recreational opportunities for worthy charitable causes and people in need. If you or your organization would like to help support events like this please contact Terry Sympson at Jackson Hill 936-872-9266.
