The Tellico Village VFW Post’s 5th Annual BoatRides4Vets service project was held at the WindRiver Community marina on Saturday, September 8th. More than 30 boats of all types and sizes stood tall to carry East Tennessee veterans and their families onto Fort Loudon and Tellico Lakes for a free day of cruising, swimming, tubing and fishing. As usual?a couple poignant stories emerged.
Tellico Village VFW Post Commander Tony Newton was honored to take Richard Shusha, a USA veteran who served in Germany, his wife Crystal and a Smokey Mountain Service dog in their care, for a cruise. Shusha said being on a boat was an important part of giving the dog the type of varied training experience that will make it a better companion for a veteran in need.
Later in the day, an active duty USAF veteran stationed at McKee-Tyson and her 8-year-old son cruised and tubed on a bow rider captained by Karen Lantry. Initially, the young man was tentative and hesitant making his way down the sometimes-wobbly docks and boarding Lantry’s boat. Three hours later upon their return, however, he was in the bow alone ready to toss a line to a dock assistant. Everyone enjoyed watching the videos of him tubing on the lake. His mother said this was the first time he’s ever been on a boat, the first time he’d ever been on a lake and the first time he’d ever been on a tube. She said next year she was going to bring a busload of USAF people to enjoy the wonderful day.
None of this, of course, would not have been possible except for the efforts dozens of Tellico Village VFW Post members, the more than 30 boat captains and crews, several other “boots-on-the-ground” volunteers who made the day go smoothly AND the WindRiver Community folks, who’ve allowed the post to use their marina for the fifth consecutive year!!
Many “Thanks” to all.
JJ