Hooks 4 Heroes founder shares emotional flag folding ceremony with American Legion Post 35 on Memorial Day

WASILLA — It’s been six months since Allen Shepherd’s son and U.S. Navy sailor Sealth Shepherd died and about eight months since his friend and nonprofit co founder Debra Zola's Marine Corps son Joseph Zola died.

"Both of our boys loved to fish," Shepherd said.

Shepherd read Ray's obituary during a flag folding ceremony at American Legion Post 35 on Memorial Day, following a brief motorcycle parade and some words from Post 35 members.

“They all come in with a common cause,” American Legion Post 35 Commander Ron Travis said.

Local motorcycle groups like the Mechanized Cavalry Motorcycle Club of Alaska and Alaska Combat Vets partook in the ceremony, offering their recording engines and American flags flapping in the wind to show their support.

Post 35 members folded the flag and performed drill commands to honor Ray with a young, local boy named Kevin Clausen playing “Taps."

Shepherd accepted the flag while choking back tears. He said that he’s sending the flag to Ray's surviving mother in Texas and the whole experience honoring some one else's son gave him some closure for his own.

“This was like having my son with me,” Shepherd said looking down at the flag.

Sealth served on the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt CVN-71 before taking his own life. Ray also took his own life.

Shepherd’s wound is obviously still very fresh but he “opens it back up” at public events like these to help others heal, and helping others seems to help him heal.

Shepherd and Zola founded a veteran-oriented program called Hooks 4 Heroes, taking several trips with service members over the summer. He said that he’s offering over 30 years of fishing experience for free in memory of his son.

“I fished with Sealth most of his life, on weekends, in the boat, on the rivers, lakes and sometimes even ponds. It was a passion we shared, and everything was alright. I know that I can not change the past and bring him back, but I can do everything in my power to help other families, and other people struggling with depression and PTSD,” Shepherd said.

After the ceremony, Shepherd said that he was all the more inspired to keep the program going.

“This is my mission in life,” Shepherd said.

The grieving father was visibly emotional throughout the flag folding ceremony, but the outpour of support from the veterans, bikers and other community members kept him smiling.

Numerous people waited after the ceremony to shake Shepherd’s hand or give him a hug. Shepherd thanked Post 35 member Matt Larson for all their help.

“It’s what we’re here for,” Larson said.

Travis said they’ve been to numerous events throughout Memorial Day and kicking back at the post is their last stop of the day. He said the flag ceremony came up and they were obliged to help.

“It was a little different, but it was the right thing to do,” Travis said.

Hooks 4 Heroes’ first fishing event of the season is May 30 at the Eklutna Tailrace.

For more information, call 907-390-7052, email hooks4herosak@gmail.com, visit hooks4heroes.com, or search Hooks 4 Heroes on Facebook.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com