Fishing for Freedom

Fishing for Freedom is a celebration of the freedoms we love with those who provide them for us. And that celebration involves fishing.

A Kansas City-based charity, "Fishing or Freedom" is giving Veterans freedom in the outdoors after they sacrificed for ours. The 14-year-old program takes Veterans and their caregivers fishing for a weekend on Truman Lake. Several months ago I received a phone call from Fishing for Freedom volunteer Ken Robinson. He asked me to speak at their 2022 event, held in Clinton, on Truman Lake. There was no way I could turn them down. Although I felt very inadequate, it was a small way in which I could repay fellow Veterans for the sacrifices they and their families had made for American freedom.

Navy Veteran Greg Davison coordinated the Fishing for Freedom 2022 event. “Every warrior deals with a lot of issues,” Davison said. “While in the service of our country, we become very accustomed to camaraderie. We depend on one another. We each hold the lives of our buddies in our hands.”

Fishing is a kind of therapy that gives warriors a sense of peace. Fishing for Freedom is a program dedicated to the purpose of providing a peaceful day on the lake, surrounded by the calming effects of nature and caring volunteers who want to serve those who have served the cause of freedom.

“It’s an honor to serve our Veterans and give them a chance to get out and enjoy a stress-free weekend,” said volunteer Ben Schilling. “I’m not a Veteran, but am very grateful for the freedoms I enjoy, because of the sacrifices our Veterans made.”

“It’s not about catching fish, it’s about being out there, and nobody’s shooting at us, that’s what it’s all about,” said Davison, as he scurried about the Leesville Elementary School auditorium directing a corps of volunteers preparing for the Saturday evening banquet. Davison has participated in Fishing for Freedom for a number of years at the Truman Lake event. "Coming from that high-stress environment, to being on the lake, and having all the worries go away, it's an awesome feeling," said Davison.

Anglers and concerned citizens come from all over the country to volunteer for the weekend event, which is free to Veterans. I spoke to several out-of-state volunteers, who traveled at their own expense to come to Truman Lake for three days to help with the program. Many said that they were there to do whatever they could do to serve the needs of the Veterans. Most had been involved in previous years and considered it an honor to serve once again.

“It takes an incredible amount of work to host an event of this magnitude,” Davison said. “Dozens of volunteers pour their hearts and souls into this event.”

Trade unions from the greater Kansas City area volunteered to sponsor the Fishing For Freedom 2020 event financially, according to Davison. “It was a tremendous outpouring of generosity from the local unions, including pipe fitters, sheet metal workers, roofers and more. Bass Pro Shops, Cabelas, and Lew's Fishing made considerable donations to the popular program as well. Teenage volunteers from an all-boys high school in Kansas City unloaded vans of fishing equipment, assembled and packaged gear and had it service ready for all participating Veterans. Adult volunteers, many of whom were Veterans themselves, mingled with the boys as they worked.

Saturday activities at Long Shoal Marina included breakfast and several fishing classes provided by volunteers. Warriors enjoyed the opportunities to learn about fishing knots, various fishing lures and presentations and water safety and equipment.

Well over 250 volunteers and Veterans gathered at Leesville Elementary Saturday evening. Every Veteran received a wide variety of gifts at registration, including Bibles, fishing rods and reels, tackle bags full of gear, fishing towels, and Fishing for Freedom caps. After committee member introductions and dinner, I had the honor of speaking to the Veterans about the healing effects of being outdoors in the Creation, which God has made for us. I quickly discovered that true to form, Veterans love a good outdoor adventure story as well as the next guy. A few moments of laughter and storytelling did all our hearts and minds a great deal of good.

Hands were shook. Thank yous were voiced. Laughter and pats on the back crossed age barriers and formed a connection between those youngsters enjoying a life of freedom provided by the Veterans.

As I watched everyone anxiously working together, I realized that part of the program therapy involved the intermingling of the old with the young. Real-life history lessons took place. I overheard questions from boys asking men where they had served. Hands were shook. Thank yous were voiced. Laughter and pats on the back crossed age barriers and formed a connection between those youngsters enjoying a life of freedom provided by the Veterans. Those were special moments that will live in the memories of those lives touched by real-life American heroes.

Anglers Port Marine hosted the Friday evening meet and greet program. Dozens of Veterans and volunteers gathered for an evening meal, current fishing reports, provided by local pros and time to get acquainted and swap a few fishing stories.

Ben Schilling graciously volunteered to emcee the Saturday evening program on short notice, after it was discovered that Ken Robinson had been involved in an auto accident. Schilling kept things moving smoothly, gave an incredible welcome to the Veterans, introduced the speaker, and waded through the laborious process of pairing every Warrior with a volunteer boater.

At sunrise on Sunday morning volunteers once again stepped up to provide an inspiring program before takeoff time. The sound of the National Anthem echoed across Truman Lake as the crowd faced the American flag posted on a boat in the harbor. Tears rolled freely down cheeks as Warriors rode off into the sunrise in boats captained by an all-volunteer force of dedicated American boating citizens.

Should you want to become involved in Fishing for Freedom as a Veteran, volunteer, or sponsor, check out: https://fishingforfreedom.us

Bill Cooper