mn.gov/mdva
July 15, 2024
Silver Bay Charter FishingOn July 1, Minnesota Veterans Homes – Silver Bay hosted its 31st annual Charter Fishing Trip on Lake Superior. After a wet and stormy week, Silver Bay Veterans Home participants had the perfect window to be on the lake: it was sunny and calm all day.
Nine boats transported 17 Residents for a four-hour trip that hooked a total of 41 fish. Participants enjoyed a food truck lunch donated by BoB-a-Q of Two Harbors, then savored the fruits of their labor during a July 2 fish fry at the Home.
“This event is one of our yearly highlights,” said Randall Walz, Public Affairs and Volunteer Services. “Residents love this North Shore excursion; it’s in a beautiful area and Knife River Marina offers great support for us to launch from. An accessible lift at the lake ensures that individuals of varying mobility can be included.”
Walz also shared that this is an all hands-on-deck experience. “In addition to the staff members who accompany our Residents on the water, our CNAs start early to wake and help dress the Veterans, our cooks prepare individualized snack boxes for each boat, and so on. Everyone plays a part in making this a consistently successful undertaking.”
The original Charter Fishing Excursion was first developed by the commander of local American Legion Post 109. Thirty-one years ago, Jim Latvala wanted to do something special for the then newly established Veterans Home. A charter boat captain himself, it was an easy connection for Jim to create a day on the lake for Veterans and he remains involved to this day. It has grown beyond the local post to support from individual donors and all manner of groups statewide.
Thirty-one years later, this annual trip continues to enjoy strong interest from Residents. In fact, all state Veterans Homes are invited to attend, but distance is a limiting factor for many.
Dani McLaughlin, Administrator, Silver Bay Veterans Home, noted the impact of this event on Residents. “There’s just something so special about fishing at the lake,” said McLaughlin. “Many of our Veterans enjoy the unique, off-campus change to their daily routine while others like the competitive nature of trying to catch more fish than their comrades. At the end of the day, people are spending quality time together doing something we all love.”
We extend our gratitude to:
All Silver Bay Veterans Home employees
Event boat captains
Paul Morris on the 32’ Freedom 2
Ben Johnson on the 34’ Chinook
Josh Widdes on the 34’ Family Time
Dave Martin on the 36’ Rain or Shine
Peter Dahl on the 32’ Nauti Hooker
Cameron Linder on the 33’ Reel Knotty
Joe Baker on the 30’ Just Chillen
Joe Kottke on the 31’ Rendezvous
Jim Latvala, American Legion Post 109/Two Harbors and founder of the Charter Fishing program
Todd Roberts, Grand Commander, Military Order of the Cooties (the Honor Degree of the Veterans of Foreign Wars)
Tony Rechichi, VFW 8th District Commander
Masonic Lodges of Silver Bay and Two Harbors
AEOA and Arrowhead Transit
Bob and Sheila Bissell with Bob-a-Q
Every supporter and volunteer, too numerous to mention. Without their involvement, this annual event would not be possible.
