A Fishy Way to Volunteer

On June 15, 36 boats will fill the Port Washington harbor for one purpose: the 38th annual Disabled Vets' Fish Outing.

About 120 disabled veterans will be filing onto those boats, including some who will be volunteering for the event, but there also are still ways for more people to get involved.

Organizer Vicki Lee said the event is in need of people to help the veterans get onto the boats and to help with fish cleaning after they get back to the harbor, as well as help with lunch.

Buses will arrive at about 8:30 a.m. to start loading on the boats, and the veterans expect to come back off the water at about 11:30 a.m.

After a morning of fishing, veterans head to the legion hall for some lunch — a fish boil, brats and burgers. Prizes are awarded for such things as getting the biggest or the most fish, and a band also comes to play.

The event, of course, is dependent upon the weather, Lee said. If its not safe to go out, the veterans head to the American Legion hall for a large game of bingo. Veterans range in age from 19 to 80 or older, Lee said, with some now coming out of conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The history of the fish outing rests with longtime Port resident Tom McQuaid, who had been out fishing one day when his boat caught on fire, Lee said. He was sent to the hospital because of the severity of his burns, but eventually decided to take a group of nurses and other people from the hospital out fishing.

The group enjoyed it so much, they continued meeting every year for the outing.

McQuaid died a couple years ago, Lee said, but the outing still continues to grow, as do the fish tales.

"They have such a good time," she said. "(Afterward), they argue over who got the biggest fish and all tell their fish stories."

To learn more about volunteering, contact Lee at 262-284-4721.