Community Corner

Operation Neptune Lands Unexpected Catch

Forty-one wounded warriors went to sea Saturday with local captains and crews for fishing and good times.

The salty captains in Operation Neptune typically guard their favorite fishing holes with secrecy reserved for bank PIN numbers.

Not so on Saturday.

The Maddie's Anglers Club captains and crews went fishing at 8 a.m. with 41 injured veterans.

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The Maddie’s fleet returned to the Boston Yacht Club docks at noon having shared their good lives on the North Shore waters — and their bags of fishing tricks and favorite spots.

Some of the veterans landed striped bass. Some hauled in smaller fare. All of them caught a good time on the water, riding over waves, casting lines into the Atlantic and shooting the breeze.

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That’s the idea behind this Wounded Warrior Project, said organizer Matt Dolan, a member of Maddie’s Club — fishing enthusiasts from Marblehead, Swampscott and elsewhere on the North Shore.

Operation Neptune is in its second year and — with help from Raytheon Corporation — has grown to include two days of events, fishing and friendship.

One of the unexpected consequences is how much the captains and crews take away from their experiences with the veterans.

On Friday the Maddie's Club members teamed up with post-9/11 veterans for a dinner and comedy show at the Boston Yacht Club.

The next morning the small groups reunited and went fishing before returning for steak-and-lobster under a big-top tent at the club.

Over the two days the veterans and captains and crews connected with each other, sharing stories, jokes and their presence.

The veterans have a variety of service-related injuries. Some have lost limbs or mobility or hearing or vision or have brain injuries or post traumatic stress disorder, according to Linda Perry, a warrior outreach coordinator with the Wounded Warrior Project.

The project helps veterans heal and continue to transition to post-military lives.

Matt Dolan noticed that the veterans are an especially appreciative group.

They had an appreciation for their moments at sea and being part of the crew, and have an appreciation for each day, Matt said.

What surprised Matt was the extent to which the captains and crews were touched by their time with the veterans, some of the Maddie's salts getting emotional when they recalled the veterans' gratitude.

The experience has a lasting influence on the Maddie's Anglers.

“These guys walk away with a greater appreciation for their lives — an unintended consequence,” he said.

On Monday, Patch will have video of the veterans and captains back from their fishing trip and photos of their time on the water.

RAYTHEON

Raytheon Company, with 2012 sales of $24 billion and 68,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, security and civil markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 91 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems; as well as a broad range of mission support services. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. For more about Raytheon, visit us at www.raytheon.com and follow us on Twitter @raytheon.

 

WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT

Wounded Warrior Project™ (WWP) began when several veterans and friends, moved by stories of the first wounded service members returning home from Afghanistan and Iraq, took action to help others in need. What started as a program to provide comfort items to wounded service members has grown into a complete rehabilitative effort to assist them as they recover and transition back to civilian life. Tens of thousands of Wounded Warriors and family members receive support each year through WWP programs designed to nurture the mind and body, and encourage economic empowerment.

 

BOSTON YACHT CLUB

The Boston Yacht Club (BYC) has a tradition of creating and supporting some of the finest sailing events found anywhere on the East Coast of North America. From the prestigious Marblehead-to-Halifax Ocean Race (co-hosted with our good friends at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron) to our very popular and long-running Wednesday Evening Races to our recent forays into invitational team (Jackson Cup) and match (Marblehead Cup) racing. The BYC is also the organization from which The U. S. Power Squadron was founded. The club has a long history with power boating for recreation and safety.  We also provide a welcome mat on "the town side" of Marblehead Harbor for visiting yachtsmen cruising into Marblehead from points near and far.

 

MADDIE’S ANGLERS CLUB

Maddie's Anglers Club is a group of local fisherman from the greater Marblehead area that share a common interest in fishing and enjoying the wonderful marine resources that surround Marblehead.  Started by Mark Magee, a past owner of Maddie's Sail Loft, and several of his friends the club has grown into more than 100 members strong and continues its commitment toward community and camaraderie on and off the water.  By sharing local experiences and knowledge we have greatly improved our collective ability to catch fish and enjoy our time on the water.



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