Posted: Tuesday, August 6, 2013 12:00 am By Virginia Kropf news@batavianews | 0 comments ALBION — The weather may not have cooperated, but nine members of Operation Injured Soldier said they had a wonderful time, nevertheless. Sunday was supposed to have been spent fishing on Lake Ontario, hosted by Medina’s Masonic War Veterans’ Lodge. Servicemen and women came from all across New York state and Pennsylvania for the outing, but the lake was too rough and the charter boats had to be canceled. This didn’t put a damper on their plans, however, and Plan B was put into action. Thanks to a bus and driver donated by Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, the soldiers and several members of Medina and Albion Masonic lodges were taken to DeWitt’s pond in Batavia, where they enjoyed a day of fishing. They may not have caught much, but any trip they can go on is wonderful, said Lee Grant of Batavia, a member of the 82nd Airborne Division, who served in Santo Domingo during the U.S. occupation of the Dominican Republic during the civil war there in the 1960s. “I feel bad for those who came a long way, but just being with my fellow comrades is a great experience,” he said. Other veterans, all of whom are members of Operation Injured Soldier, who enjoyed the outing were Skip Hurlburt of Watertown, an Army veteran who served in Korea and at Fort Drum; Nathan Haddad of Evans Mills, an Army veteran who served at Fort Bragg, Ky., Alaska, Korea and several tours of Iraq; Jose Sanchez of New York City, who was on active duty on 9-11 and served with the 204th Engineers, the 102nd Battalion out of Connecticut, on tours of Germany, Iraq, Kuwait and during the ice storm of 1998 in Rochester; Ken Englert of Georgia Shores, Pa., a Marine Corps veteran who served in the 1965 uprising in the Dominican Republic and in Vietnam in 1966; Nate Thompson of Spencerport, a member of the Army and Army National Guard who served in Iraq and Afghanistan; Anna Swanson of New York City, a member of the Army and Army National Guard who was also on duty 9-11 and served in Bosnia and Iraq; Justin Smith of Batavia, a member of the Army’s 316th Artillery who served at Fort Hood, Texas; and Ed Spence of Oakfield, who served with the 32nd Marines Air Wing and Army Infantry and is commander of Medina’s Masonic War Veterans who led efforts to sponsor the outing. Jim Straight of Churchville, bus driver for Community Action, is also an Army veteran who served in Fort Polk, La., Fort Benning, Ga., and Vietnam. Special guests included Dennis Breheny of New Hartford, commander general of the New York State Masonic War Veterans and a Navy veteran of Vietnam; Larry Thueme, who came with his wife Nancy from South Lyon, Mich., the national headquarters of Operation Injured Soldier; and former assemblyman and guest speaker Charles Nesbitt of Albion. Nesbitt, who earned the prestigious air medal with 26 oak leaf clusters for heroism as a helicopter pilot with the 57th Assault Helicopter Company during Vietnam, talked about some of his experiences. “I went through a difficult war without getting hurt, and I am humbled to be here in the company of you who did,” Nesbitt said. “I am proud of you. You have given part of your life to the military, but there is a life after the military, and thank heavens there are people like Dennis, Ed and Larry to help you.” Veteran Skip Hurlburt addressed Nesbitt and his peers, saying, “You paved the road. You set the standards for us to maintain.” The day of fishing was organized by Spence, who chaired a spaghetti dinner at the Albion American Legion in April to raise funds for the day. Transportation and accommodations for all veterans who attended was paid for by Operation Injured Soldier. A steak dinner followed at Renovation Lodge 97 in Albion, cooked by Jeff Holler. Other guests included Tim McGee, a member of both Albion and Medina Masonic lodges, and Don Stirk, chaplain of Renovation Lodge and member of the Genesee-Wyoming Masonic War Veterans. Prizes were awarded to Skip Hurlburt for the largest fish, a largemouth bass; and to Anna Swanson for the smallest fish, a bluegill. Breheny presented American flags to each veteran and to Nesbitt. He said the New York State Masonic War Veterans has given away 37,000 flags across New York state, including many to New York City schools. Previously, he said someone had complained about having flags in public schools and saying the Pledge of Allegiance, so all the flags had been removed. “We put them back,” he said. Theume said Operation Injured Soldier was founded seven years ago by a veteran in Michigan, who was injured in Iraq and dreamed of getting back to doing the things he used to do. Any soldier who is 30 percent or more injured is eligible to join the organization. “One of the best things we can do for our injured soldiers is get them out together,” he said. Spence said he plans to organize another fishing trip next year, when he hopes they can get on the water.
Posted on: Tue, 06 Aug 2013 04:48:01 +0000