Two members of the Wounded Warrior Project arrived in Avalon on Sunday with plans to spend a few days with the Catalina Island Conservancy, hunting in the Island’s interior.
Avalon’s Veterans of Foreign Wars, representatives of the Avalon Fire Department and the Sheriffs Department met them at the Cabrillo Mole.
Two members of the Wounded Warrior Project arrived in Avalon on Sunday with plans to spend a few days with the Catalina Island Conservancy, hunting in the Island’s interior.
Avalon’s Veterans of Foreign Wars, representatives of the Avalon Fire Department and the Sheriffs Department met them at the Cabrillo Mole.
“We met and greeted them from the Dana Point boat at around 11:45 a.m.,” said Avalon Councilman Ralph Morrow, VFW quartermaster. “They are two marines and they represent the beginning of a program by the Conservancy with the Wounded Warriors.”
The group adjourned to a nearby war memorial for a full colors presentation and Joe Sampson sang “The Star Spangled Banner.” After some socializing they headed out for the project’s inaugural Wheelin’ Sportsmen deer hunt.
“They will be hunting with our conservation staff for a couple of days and we will have a barbecue at the Nature Center.” said Pat Maxwell, the Conservancy’s director of Marketing & Communication Technology. “Their stories are remarkable.”
The Catalina Island Conservancy in partnership with the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Wheelin’ Sportsmen Program provided access for wounded warriors to explore and experience Catalina’s wildlands through the Conservancy’s game management program.
Sergeant Israel Thomas Franco, resident of Oceanside, California, was on his third tour of duty in 2011 in Afghanistan when, while leading a dismounted security patrol, was wounded by an improvised explosive device. His personal awards include the Purple Heart, National Defense, Global War on Terrorism, Sea Service Deployment, Iraq Campaign, Afghanistan Campaign, Good Conduct Medal and Combat Action Ribbon.
Corporal Joshua Sust, resident of Temecula, California, was wounded on his third month of a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan in 2011. He was wounded while on mounted patrol when his vehicle hit an IED. His personal awards include the Purple Heart, National Defense, Global War on Terrorism, Afghanistan Campaign, Good Conduct Medal and Combat Action Ribbon.
Conservancy Chief Operating Officer Joe Kalla and Trails Supervisor Kevin Ryan worked closely with NWTF to make the weeklong visit and lunch possible. Also present at the lunch was NWTF California State Chapter President Joe Pecsi, and NWTF California State Chapter Vice President and Wheelin’ Sportsmen Program Coordinator Patrick Morse.
Part of the NWTF motto includes the words “conserve”
and “share,” which dovetail with the Conservancy’s own efforts to preserve and restore nature on the Island, accrding to Maxwell.
“The Conservancy, in partnership with the NWTF’s Wheelin’ Sports Program, are looking forward to making this an annual event,” she said.
“The NWTF’s Wheelin’ Sportsmen program is dedicated to providing outdoor opportunities for people of all disabilities. Involving Wounded Warriors in a deer hunt in cooperation with the Catalina Island Conservancy is a perfect partnership for everyone involved,” said Morse.
Those interested in scheduling their own adventure with the Catalina Island Conservancy‘s game management program can find more information about Wildlife Management online at catalinahunting.com.
Sunday evening the participants enjoyed a welcome dinner with the VFW members, their hunting guides, volunteers and a few of the Catalina Conservancy executives to kick off their week of hunting and fishing on the island.
The Wounded Warrior Project serves veterans and service members who incurred a physical or mental injury, illness, or wound that was co-incidental to their military service on or after Sept. 11, 2001 and the terrorist attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center in New York City.
About 3,000 people died in the incidents, including hundreds of firefighters and rescue workers. According to the organization, many warriors say they had a sense of duty to volunteer for the military following the tragic events.
“The VFW supports the wounded Warrior Project and we send money to them,” Morrow said.
“We are hoping the program will continue, and we’ll continue to support it.”
The Wounded Warrior Project offers a variety of programs and services. Its stated goals include “to honor and empower wounded warriors and to foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded service members in our nation’s history…It is the hand extended to encourage warriors as they adjust to their new normal and achieve new triumphs.”
The Wounded Warrior Battalion-West paddle board team competed in the 55th annual Catalina Classic, a race from Catalina Island, Calif. to Manhattan Beach, in August of 2012. They will also participate in the 2013 Catalina Classic Paddleboard Race this Sunday.
