3rd Annual Orange Beach Warrior Hook-Up

THURSDAY - WELCOME ABOARD!

It felt like a long drive for me into Orange Beach, where I would be the photographer for the organization’s third annual AHERO Warrior Hook-Up there. But then the excitement took hold as I pulled up to the hotel. As soon as I walked in, the staff greeted me warmly, pointing me and others to the small conference room where Lee Stuckey, Jeff Tuggle, Jeff Parker, and Kevin Adair were processing AHERO’s guest Veterans for their Alabama fishing licenses.

It was nice to be greeted by new faces of Veterans I hadn’t ever met before. Immediately, I felt gladdened by the realization of how our AHERO tribe still keeps growing!

And now non-stop action and non-stop relaxation can happen … at the same time!

That was Thursday, and that evening we ate at a beautiful venue, The Heron House. AHERO’s use of this glamorous, mansion-style restaurant and grounds had been arranged and paid for by Art Farve. A highly successful businessman from Louisiana by way of Mississippi, Art is the owner of The Wharf at Orange Beach where much of this Warrior Hook-Up event comes together. He is also owner of the stunning fishing yacht that we sailed on into great fishing waters. A yacht named, appropriately, A Work of Art.

Along the way we were introduced to David Graham and Alex Aucoin, respectively a nurse-practitioner and a strength coach from Faulkner University in Montgomery, Ala. Both of these health professionals were here to help us with our aches and pains because plenty of us have plenty of those at times.

These guys were so good to us! They stayed up late talking to us and treating whoever needed it well after the day’s official (exhausting?) activities had ended.

Heron House was again the scene of great food & entertainent for our heroes!

FRIDAY MORNING

The next day we woke to stormy weather. But that was okay, because Yoga was first on the schedule, and most of us knew that this Gulf region has weather that can change in a couple of hours. We weren’t too worried about getting to fish tomorrow.

We headed over to the Glow Yoga Studio in Gulf Shores, where we experienced a moreor-less relaxing session that occasionally erupted in laughter because of the obvious lack of flexibility or balance so many of us have learned to just live with. We then broke up to check out the area’s attractions on this rainy afternoon, meeting up later back at The Heron House.

Robyn Czuri has found an interesting perch on which to "do" her energetic Yoga moves. You go, girl!!

Giving Yoga his all, Kenneth Dollar tests his wingspan.

There, Col Mike Corrado, USMC (Ret) and Jeff Silvey joined Kevin Adair to bring us a totally enjoyable night of music, laughter, and food. They jam together like nobody’s business, and we get the benefit of that amazing musical gift and heart they all have.

USMC Col Mike Corrado, USMC (Ret) on guitar and songwriter Jeff Silvey on keyboards ... Two whose music captures the spirit of our Veterans in song!

Playing from the heart. Col Mike Corrado, USMC (Ret) entertains the Veterans at AHERO's 3rd annual Orange Beach Warrior Hook-Up.

FISHIN’ DAY!

By Saturday morning the weather had cleared out over the Gulf, and things looked good. We gathered to board and head offshore to fish. After running about 40 miles out on A Work of Art, we dropped lines for the first time.

And let me tell you: It was on!

We pulled fish after fish from the Gulf. Triggerfish, grouper and redfish were all biting as we moved from deep-water spot to deepwater spot. And we kept on doing that from the first line dropped until the last line had been hauled out with a fish and it was time to head back to shore.

Again, the magic of AHERO happened. Everyone had begun to relax. Conversations were flowing easy and naturally, just the way real connection is meant to be made.

This, of course, is the key to every AHERO Veterans event. Walls come down. Veterans who have never met before open up to one another. The experience was sailing on with a lot of truly meaningful talking and a lot of interested listening. We made it back to the dock with our catch and had the opportunity to thank Art and his fantastic and very helpful crew. I looked around, happy to see how conversations, smiles and laughter were continuing to be so spontaneous – not to mention infectious!

Devon Thacker waits, suited up for the heavy action, big-fish-catchin' rod.

Dave Riley is the man with a plan when it comes to the right equipment for catchin'! Warrior Hook-Up Fishing Folks (l-rI) Jason Stephens, William Reilly, Andy Torres, Kay Young, Anis Abuzeid, Ken Stoddard & Lee Isenhour.

At night The Wharf at Orange Beach comes alive with color and light!

A STRAIGHT-UP PERFECT AHERO SATURDAY NIGHT

Looking back, it seems like time just flew from Thursday on. In a flash, it was time to gather together in friendship over the last excellent dinner of the event – the Saturday night breaking of bread as a now close-knit group. Lee and others like Dave Glassman are great and inspiring speakers, and we listened and learned about the life of Josh Burnett, the Army Green Beret who lost both his legs and then sadly succumbed to suicide.

Fighting that kind of tragedy is the thread that ties our AHERO organization and its many events together. It’s the mission that motivates us and moves so many individuals, businesses and organizations to pitch in, contribute, and help us carry it out.

We also heard about progress being made on acquiring a property that would be suitable to become the AHERO Warrior Lodge. Weeks after this event, that “prospect” would become a reality. And now, along with the Lodge, the AHERO Josh Burkette Cabin has been built on the property by a willing crew of members from the very caring congregation of the Lomax Assembly of God.

Listening to the music of Silvey, Coronado, and Adair, we reflected on our lives and what we each needed to do to keep healing. And we listened to how we could participate in helping others through AHERO.

More developments were announced that evening. How the doors are being opened within the music industry for our Music 4AHERO program. How Lee’s Operation Phoenix program can train Veterans in a high-reward/high-risk skill outdoors: wildland firefighting. For many of us, it’s a way to serve again that many of us can relate to.

Downtime at the Warrior Hook-Up is when great conversations happen and new friends are made. Here (l-r) John Ryals and Greg Brewer talk about their service experiences.

SUNDAY-A PARTING, BUT NOT A GOODBYE

That morning, we met for worship and to say so long for now. The beautiful skies of this setting welcomed us all to count the many blessings we have received individually and together as the AHERO family. Which is what we really are: a family. One that serves others and serves from the heart. Seeing those who have been helped come back to do just that has been one of the greatest blessings of being part of this organization.

Here, true growth is occurring, and I encourage you to come on the journey with us. It doesn’t matter if you’re the one who needs help or the one who wants to give it. Please take the step, contribute if you can but reach out and get in where you fit in. Join the tribe!

You won’t regret it.