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Location: North America | Not sure if you all heard about the chaos at the end of the Milwaukee Muskie show this past weekend, we where very happy to be part of this. This was from the Take a vet fishing facebook page.
Well we're back from the Muskie Expo in Milwaukee... What a show! Take a Vet Fishing had a booth and raffled off a St. Croix Legend Tournament Muskie Rod with an Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 7000iC3 reel. About a half hour before the show ended we asked Scott Kieper (MC of the Muskie Expo and owner of Kiepers Muskie Guide Service) to announce the raffle drawing and the winning ticket "live" over the intercom. What happened next.... words cannot describe!
We chose a little guy from the crowd to pick the wining name. As Scott announced the last few minutes to buy a ticket for the drawing, Chris Piha, owner of Llungen Lures (and an active military serviceman) decided to throw in one of their awesome bucktails into the drawing. Within minutes, 80% of the vendors at the show were filing suit and throwing in lures, additional rods, reels, DVD's, shirts, hats, tackle boxes, boat batteries (YES! I said a $400 brand new Odyssey cranking battery!), Muskie club memberships, etc. into this drawing to support our US Military Veterans! The scene was like nothing I have ever seen before, and may never see again! The "band of brothers" known as the "Muskie Community" showed their fierce solidarity and commitment to our troops! With a table full of prizes (estimated with a retail value of over $3000 dollars), the "Muskie Brothers" came up to the booth and donated an Elgin antique boat motor!
Mike Bell was the lucky winner of the prize package "guesstimated" around $4000 in retail value! Congratulations to Mike, and a HUGE THANK YOU to all the vendors who participated in the "donation frenzy"! You are all appreciated more than you know!!
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Posts: 243
Location: South Central Wisconsin | Simply,.... awesome... |
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Posts: 265
Location: McGuire AFB, NJ | That was one of the coolest things I've ever seen...honestly. Scott did an awesome job. Great to see so many supporters of programs like this.
Chris
Edited by AFchris 2/19/2014 8:55 PM
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Posts: 518
Location: Cave Run Lake KY. | A Thank you to all the vet's that put their lives on the line every day 24=7 Marv. |
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Posts: 17
| It was quite a scene, very cool. To anybody out there that would like to volunteer for the Take a Vet Fishing day, please do so. I have volunteered as a guide the past two years and have a had a great time. Jay Garstecki has turned this into a great experience for everyone involved. If interested, go to www.takeavetfishing.com to sign up as a vet, guide, or general volunteer. |
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Posts: 101
| As a veteran living in the Madison area, I def wanted to get involved. Talked with some guys at the Milwaukee show and am signed up to take out a fellow Vet on Waubesa in June! Can't wait! Great Cause! |
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Posts: 410
Location: one foot over the line | What a phenomenal story. congratulations and thank you to all of those that donated items, and a HUGE thank you to all of our service men and women. |
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