Deanna Smith, AHERO Interim Executive Director

Carrying on a Tradition

AHERO sends a heartfelt message of love and appreciation to its Pensacola Beach community of supporting businesses and boat owners who continue to embrace the AHERO mission of reconnecting Veterans to the revitalizing joy of outdoor life and activity. It takes the help of a community willing to support meaningful experiences and inspire increased outreach and connection to create new pathways to wellness for our Veterans, many of whom are at-risk of giving up due to wounds both visible and unseen. For the past seven years, our beach dwellers and visitors have provided AHERO with exactly the kind of help needed to accomplish this.

Each year, our supporters provide a home for the annual August “Warrior Hook-Up” event. Wounded, injured and disabled Veterans travel from all over the country to join our local Veterans and citizens for a fun-filled, therapeutic extended weekend on our white sands. Boarding deep-sea fishing boats generously provided by area residents, they experience the exhilarating joy of “salt life” at its best: charging the rolling waves as they cast out for the biggest fish our Gulf-blue waters have to offer.

Pensacola Beach, AHERO salutes you and we look forward to the 8th annual Hook-Up on your glorious sands and deep waters this August! Firehouse Subs: Proud to Serve the Spirit of AHERO

By Chris Broscious

For the past six years, Firehouse Subs of Gulf Breeze, Florida, has partnered with AHERO to support our injured and wounded active-service military members and Veterans. It has been our pleasure to provide food for the fishing expedition they enjoy during AHERO’s Warrior Hook-Up event. This is something I am personally very passionate about as it’s such a rewarding experience to help these heroes have a great time and create lifelong memories.

Here on the Gulf Coast, fishing is a major part of community living. My dad, Jim Broscious, has been fishing since he was a teenager, and he passed that passion on to me as a kid. We still love to go out on the water and catch fish to this day. It’s a pastime that brings up so many happy memories for my family and me.

Fishing in open waters is often best done in the company of others. So when the opportunity came up that allowed us to help with an event that brings our warriors together to enjoy this healing pastime, we jumped at it.

Helping others and giving back to the community is at the heart of everything we do at Firehouse Subs. In addition, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation gives back to first responders, public safety organizations and military folks every year, with more than $37.7 million granted in 47 states, Puerto Rico and Canada. Here in the Pensacola area, the Foundation has granted more than $545,000, and we’re honored to be a part of that.

The opportunity to help AHERO succeed in its mission to prevent suicide among service members and Veterans gives us another way to feel connected to the community in which we live and work. America’s military members past and present have done, and do, so much to protect our rights and the country we live in. In my mind and my dad’s, joining with AHERO to create a positive, fun and memorable weekend for them each year is one way we can honor their sacrifices.

On behalf of its guest Veterans and Active Service Members

would like to express its gratitude to the members of the Pensacola Beach Elks Club Lodge 497

for the fabulous evening, great friendship and support all enjoyed at the Saturday night August 2018 Warrior Hook-up Fish-Fry Dinner. Each year, Elks Club Lodge 497 provides our Veterans with a place of comfort and conviviality where indoors they are served delicious food and outdoors on the veranda they take in the evening beauty of our Gulf waters, recalling the fun and challenge of their AHERO Warrior Hook-Up fishing adventures Thank You!

ELKS Post 497 Board of Directors Chairman Dan Smith presents a $2000 check from the Elks National Foundation (ENF) for the August 2019 Warrior HookUp dinner, to AHERO Board of Directors member and volunteer, retired Lt. Col. Dave Glassman, USMC. The ENF, through its Veterans Service and Remembrance arm, provides grants to charitable organizations with programs that aid and comfort America’s Veterans in need.