The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

The energy was contagious at the first annual Warriors, Widows and Heroes event last Thursday at the Elochoman Slough Marina.

The idea for this event has been simmering in the head of Puget Island resident Bud Mickelsen for seven years, ever since he saw a presentation given by Jeff Mason of Puyallup. Mason runs a program called Fish'n Trips for Heroes, providing an opportunity for Wounded Warriors to experience fishing. Normally, Mason takes out one or two at a time. Mickelsen wanted to try it on a bigger scale.

Luckily, he took a chance and shared his idea with someone. The right someone it turns out, because local volunteers helped Mickelsen take the idea and run.

Mickelsen, VFW members, fishermen, students in a vocational agriculture class from Wahkiakum High School, the Hotel Cathlamet and many other volunteers made time to feed, house, and take several Wounded Warriors, Widows and local police and firefighters out on the Columbia River to fish that day.

The scene was busy and cheerful on Thursday afternoon. Boats were still coming in and participants were walking up to a tent at the marina to have their catch weighed. Volunteers talked excitedly amongst themselves, smiling and laughing, or interacting with the participants who had come from Fort Lewis, but were from all different points around the country.

A lot of them had never fished before.

One young woman who had come down for the event was from Baltimore and had never seen fish so big.

"We never eat fish like that where I'm from," Loretta Wells said, her eyes wide while she watched fish being weighed. She hadn't caught anything that day, but she shared that she'd had the best sleep she'd had in a while, sitting in the boat while her friends tried to snag a fish.

"I'm looking for a boat friend now," she laughed. Whether it's for more of that restorative sleep or to actually do a little fishing, only she knows.

A young Brian Trujillo, who came with his mother Catherine Trujillo-Adriaansen, just grinned, according to Sharon Deaton, who along with her husband Brett, had volunteered to take participants out in their boat.

"We didn't even know he had one on the line," Deaton said.

Mickelsen said he'd heard that the Deatons had extended an invitation to the Trujillos and they stayed another night so the four could go fishing again the next day.

"I also heard that some of the other men who came down for the event were invited back and that they drove down the next day for more fishing," Mickelsen said. "That indicates that they had a pretty good time."

According to Esther Roche, 75 people went fishing on 23 boats, and they caught 489 lbs. of salmon. Mickelsen is pretty certain that most of the participants from Fort Lewis went home with a fish. Sportsman's Warehouse donated several prizes; C&H Classic Smoked Fish sent participants home with smoked salmon, and the Hotel Cathlamet donated some lodgings.

"I love to be around people having a good time," Mickelsen said. "Today's event was beyond expectations. There has been so much laughter and I've enjoyed the smiles."

Diana Zimmerman

Brett and Sharon Deaton, left, look on as Brian Trujillo and his mother, Catherine Trujillo-Adriaansen show obvious delight at Brian's first fish.

The plans have already begun for next year's event. There will be a meeting in the near future to talk about what worked and what didn't. Mickelsen wishes that they could invite more people but acknowledges that the size of the facility at the marina is limiting.

Nevertheless, the event is expected to be featured in the national VFW magazine, according to Mickelsen, and there is talk of encouraging other VFWs to have similar events.

"It's nice to see all the guys and gals so happy," Naselle resident Victoria Manney said. "The VFW and the American Legion are so pumped."

"It's the most amazing community event because everybody came together to make it happen," Roche added. "Hats off to the community that pitched in. It was a fantastic group to work with."

There truly were smiles all around.