OGDENSBURG- Wounded veterans staying at Fort Drum got the chance to fish the St. Lawrence River in the second annual Wounded Warriors Bass Derby.

The soldiers spent a sunny summer day on the water, competing to see which team could bring in the four biggest bass.

Nineteen boats launched from the Dobisky Center in Ogdensburg, carrying 34 veterans out into the river at 7:30 a.m. to begin fishing. The tournament lasted until 3:30 p.m., followed by a dinner and awards ceremony sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

“One of our big priorities is to reach out to people in the area,” said FISHCAP coordinator Donald R. Meissner, who organized the event.

Community volunteers from Ogdensburg and beyond provided time, money and resources, including boats, to make the tournament happen..

“The people in the area came out of the woodwork,” Mr. Meissner said.

FISHCAP limited the number of participants to 34, so that each could have plenty of help on the water. This is up from last year’s 23 veterans. Many of this year’s participants were new, while others were familiar faces, Mr. Meissner said.

Many of the volunteers were veterans themselves, or had family and friends in the military.

“Just about all of them are connected in some way,” said Bob J. Giordano, one of the event organizers.

Whether they were catching fish or not, veterans said they enjoyed the chance to get out on the water.

“I love it,” said Scott J. Moreau, a staff sergeant from Vermont who served in Iraq. “It beats being back there with nothing to do in the barracks.”

Fishing provided a good way to get outdoors for vets who may not be able to participate in some other activities.

“A lot of stuff we can’t do, because we’re hurt, so this is really fun,” said Jeremy J. Bowser, and Iraq war veteran from Cortland.

Feedback for the first two Wounded Warriors Derbies have been positive, Mr. Meissner said, and he looks forward to continuing it in the future.

“It’s hopefully the beginning of an annual thing,” he said.

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