On Thursday, May 1, four veterans came to Midland for their Reel Thanx fishing excursion.
Real Thanx acknowledges and appreciates both active and retired military personnel by helping them reconnect with nature.
“Alejandro Rivera, a veteran and part of Reel Thanx Group 66, expressed his excitement,” he stated.
Reel Thanx was established in 2007 and offers military personnel an entirely sponsored fishing excursion.
These excursions occur three times each year, accommodating approximately six participants per trip.
Everyone participating in the Reel Thanx event needs to sign up for the experience.
To be eligible, candidates must have served commendably in one of the military branches without any violations, and they should have sustained an injury, wound, or developed an ailment directly due to their service in a combat area.
Mike Starkey, who serves as a Director at Reel Thanx, stated emphatically, “They absolutely must be genuine combat veterans. They had boots on the ground.”
Rivera is among the four participants in the Group 66 Reel Thanx excursion from May 1st to May 5th.
He is an experienced veteran who endures PTSD as well as certain physical wounds sustained during his service.
“I’m looking forward to meeting the guys, sharing stories, and going fishing,” stated Rivera.
This journey unites service members and provides them with an opportunity to share their experiences with others who have faced comparable circumstances.
“We all have connections, whether direct or indirect. Each of us has faced challenges,” Rivera stated.
Starkey stated, “They’re the only ones who know precisely what they’ve experienced. They’re the only ones who have actually been in those specific circumstances.”
Usually, attendees arrive in Midland on a Thursday afternoon, and upon their arrival at the airport, they are welcomed by members of the Patriot Guard Riders.
“I suppose the most accurate description would be somewhat shy,” Starkey stated.
On Friday, they make their way to Lake Amistad in Del Rio.
They dedicate multiple hours to the lake activities on both Saturday and Sunday.
“They begin interacting with each other somewhat over the weekend. By Sunday night, it feels reminiscent of an old reunion. They are laughing, joking, chatting, spending time together, and have become close friends,” stated Starkey.
On Monday morning, the team heads back to the Midland airport, while the participants return to their homes.
Starkey mentions that one of the finest compliments often come from the participants’ spouses and family members once they return home.
She essentially began by stating that he is completely different,” Starkey explained. “He shifted from being uninvolved in family matters to wanting to assist me with taking the children to school, going to baseball games, helping out at the grocery store, and getting involved in every aspect of our lives.
“I urge fellow soldiers to participate in additional activities and join more programs where they can find peace of mind, knowing that there are people who care,” stated Rivera.
Ever since their initial collective outing in September 2007, Reel Thanx has offered more than 350 military personnel the opportunity for a fishing excursion.
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