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Take a Vet Fishing event Sunday in Iron Mountain

Military veterans will have the opportunity to take a half-day guided fishing trip on the Bays de Noc on Sunday.

It’s part of a “A Day of Giving Back,” an event sponsored by the Take A Vet Fishing organization. The purpose is to thank veterans, as well as provide support for those who have post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

The nonprofit organization was founded in 2011 and aids active and reserve military veterans with emotional and rehabilitation support by means of piscatorial therapy, or fishing therapy.

The slogan, “A Day of Giving Back” is the core of Take a Vet Fishing’s mission and serves as a day of giving back to our nation’s heroes.

With the assistance of volunteer guides and mentors, Take a Vet Fishing provides guided fishing outings and a venue for veterans to socially interact with each other as a way to share their story and reconnect with fellow veterans.

With 56 veterans already signed up for Sunday’s event, event organizers are looking for help from anglers with boats to volunteer as a guide boat in order to accommodate all of the participants.

The event will kick off at 6 a.m. Eastern time at Gladstone Harbor in Van Cleve Park where veterans and their guides will check in and then depart from the harbor at first safe light.

According to Ed Garza, director of marketing for TAVF, the veterans will fish for four hours, returning to the harbor around 11 a.m. Upon their return, veterans and their guides will be transported via charter bus from the harbor to the Gladstone American Legion Post 71 for a luncheon and honor ceremony, which will consist of a presentation of the flag and singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Door prizes will be awarded throughout the luncheon and one veteran will have the chance to win a fishing trip to Canada. Garza added the event is an effort to show recognition to veterans and that TAVF is excited to be here.

“It gives us a chance to share with everyone what we do, and it’s fellowship for the vets,” Garza said.

If anyone is interested in participating in the TAVF event, or volunteering, call 413-FOR-VETS (413-367-8387) or register by going to the website at www.takeavetfishing.org.

This will be the third stop for TAVF during the 2016 season. Previous events were at Fox Lake, Ill., and Lake Waubesa in Madison, Wis. TAVF will conclude its season with visits to Hillsport, Ontario Canada; Mille Lacs, Minn.; and Lake Minnetonka, Minn.

Daily News (Iron Mountain)

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