Veterans Day Fishing Trip

Group Photo, (from left to right): Howard Appleby, Capt. Bouncer, James Elston, Capt. Springer, Capt. Castelano, Steven Hill, Pedro of Ashley Live Bait, Billy Phinizy, Juan Bermudez, Capt. Cooper, Capt. Dieterle and Jalil Pulgarin.

On Veterans Day, Hope For The Warriors^® was excited to work with Outdoor Adventure Conservation Fund to be able to send five veterans on a fishing trip out of Miami Beach Marina. Trips like these provide service members the chance to embrace an outdoor lifestyle while providing therapeutic benefits that extend to their families as well. Hope For The Warriors^® Outdoor Adventures Program provides adaptive opportunities for wounded service members, who previously embraced an outdoorsman lifestyle, as well as those new to traditional outdoor sports, to participate in sporting activities in the great outdoors on their road to recovery. 

Veteran Jalil Pulgarin (R) and his cousin, Juan Bermudez, waiting to hit the water.

Veterans Billy Phinizy (L) and Steven Hill (middle)

along with the captain’s mate onboard the Cutting Edge

 ready to go fishing.

“This was an amazing day—one I will never forget and the fact that it was Veterans Day guarantees that it will be a locked memory for as long as I can remember,” stated Veteran Steven Hill. “I was able to scratch #8 off my bucket list, catch a Sailfish.” 

Billy Phinizy’s wife, Lauren, said, “My husband is still beaming ear to ear from the trip. I am so happy that he was given this opportunity.”

Veterans Howard Apply (L) and James Elton (R) 

show off a cobia with help from Capt. Billy Springer. 

They fished on the Dusky, piloted by Capt. Bouncer Smith.

Hope For The Warriors^®  would like to thank the Outdoor Adventure Conservation Fund, Outdoor Adventure Dream Giveaway, Sue Singer, Matt Johnson of Monty's Restaurant, Hampton Inn, Chris Chaffin of the Outdoor Adventure Conservation Fund, and the following captains: Capt. Randolph "Bouncer" Smith, Captains Alex Castelano and Quenton Dieterle, Billy Springer, and Jon Cooper. It was a true community effort of Miami area businesses to make this trip such a successful event for our veterans opportunity.

Veteran Steven Hill proudly holds one of the nice dolphin

 he caught on aboard the Cutting Edge, with Capt. Alex Castelano.

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