Wounded Warriors 2006
The Atlantic Ocean was a bit sloppy Tuesday, September 19th, but the “SS Winner Queen” left Carolina Beach Inlet that morning with a special mission. They had 32 Camp Lejeune Marines recovering from wounds sustained while fighting in Iraq aboard. Assisted by 13 volunteers from the Cape Fear Blue Water Fishing Club, they were looking forward to a half day of offshore fishing.
Although fishing wasn’t spectacular, the mood among the Marines was extremely jovial when the “Winner Queen” returned to the dock around 2:30 pm. As they disembarked the boat, the members of the Hoggard High School Band played the Marine Corps Hymn, followed by a presentation by the Ashley High School Junior Naval Officer Reserve Training Corps. The Wilmington Police Department Pipe and Drums Corps then played as the soldiers crossed the street and were seated to dine as guests of the Sea Witch Cafe.
After the meal, a chartered bus brought the Marines back to Camp Lejeune, where they live to together in a special barracks for soldiers who are healing from injuries, unable to return to their units. The barracks provide an opportunity for the recovering soldiers to receive support and camaraderie from others going through a similar experience.
This trip began as the brainchild of local retiree Frank Grant over a month ago. Grant got the idea after hearing a speech from Lt. Col. Timothy Maxwell, who organized the “Wounded Warriors” barracks at Camp Lejeune. Maxwell and his wife Sharon also operate the non-profit organization Hope For the Warriors. “I wanted to do something to honor these guys who gave so much so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have here,” said Grant.
Three weeks before the trip, Grant began contacting local businesses and accepting private donations in his quest to provide the soldiers with a day of rest and relaxation away from the base.
Putting the excursion together was easier than Grant could have ever hoped, as the funding goal was met in only 10 days. “It was a pleasure for me to look for donors and support from local businesses,” Grant said. “We had tremendous, overwhelming support on the part of the community and everyone we were able to contact.”
Financially sponsoring the Marines’ trip were the Cape Fear Seahawk Squadron of the Naval Aviation Foundation and members of the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI, in addition to private donations that came in from all across the country.
Three local restaurants also played a huge role in making this day for the Wounded Warriors a success. The Sea Witch Cafe fed the warriors after the trip, the Toscana Restaurant provided sandwiches for the boat, and Apple Annie’s baked the soldiers an enormous cake with a rendering of the Marines raising the American flag at Iwo Jima and the Marine Motto “Semper Fi” atop it.
The 13 volunteers from the Cape Fear Blue Water Fishing Club who assisted the Marines in fishing were also integral to making this a successful day.
The outpouring of donations, both in volunteer time and money, are an affirmation of how much the community supports these men who made grave sacrifices serving their country. By all accounts, this trip was a successful way to offer some gratitude to the Marines who made that sacrifice, and plans are already in the works for next year’s Wounded Warriors fishing trip.
