Hooks for Heroes hold inaugural fishing event for veterans

WASILLA — The up and coming Hooks for Heroes nonprofit program held its first inaugural fishing event May 30.

There was a sizable turnout with steady interest throughout the day, encouraging and delighting founder Allen Shepherd as he set hooks and mingled with local U.S. military veterans along the shores of the Eklutna Tail Race.

“This is making a difference,” Shepherd said.

Shepherd founded Hooks for Heroes with his friend and fellow grieving parent, Debra Zola who lives in Texas with the vision of supporting veterans in their respective communities with free fishing trips and camaraderie.

“That’s what it’s all really about, the support,” Shepherd said.

The goal was to create a program for U.S. military members past or present to come together and share the simple, yet powerful experience of fishing with family and friends.

Shepherd was pleased to report many newfound friendships blossomed over the course of the day, many veterans making plans with each other for future excursions. He said a dozen veterans showed up to fish with Hooks for Heroes, and they all asked when the next trip would be.

Shepherd set up a fishing pole for his late son, U.S. Navy sailor Sealth Shepherd. It’s been six months since Sealth committed suicide and about eight months since Zola’s son and Marine Corps member, Joseph Zola, did the same. Both of the young men loved to fish.

“It really feels like my son is here in the midst of all this,” Shepherd said. “This is what he was about.”

Shepherd and Zola set out to make this program a reality to combat the overwhelming rates of veteran depression, PTSDr and suicide.

“I feel like I finally found an escape from all the hurt, and this is what it is,” Shepherd said.

Valley resident Michelle Sturgeon showed up to support the cause, bringing food for the participants that she prepared with her family.

“Freedom isn’t free and it never was,” Sturgeon said. “It’s good to know you have a grieving father that lost his son on Christmas Day due to suicide is the first one out here making a difference so other fathers don’t have that same loss and sadness that’s totally preventable.”

Sturgeon said they’re going to need dozens of additional groups with similar missions to Hooks for Heroes to substantially reduce the rates of suicide in Alaska.

“Mental health awareness, that’s a big one in our state,” Sturgeon said.

Fishing was slow on Saturday. U.S. Army veteran Robert Gilmer said he still had fun, and the other guys seemed to be hitting it off.

“A bite would have been cool,” Gilmer said with a laugh.

Being Alaskans, most of the participants showed up with their own gear, but there was some extra equipment and poles on hand. There was also a table full of snacks and drinks.

Plenty of kids got to practice casting lines at the family friendly site. The only catch of the day was a small trout caught by a young boy named Kevin Clausen, the same boy who played “Taps” at an emotional flag folding ceremony on Memorial Day in honor of Zola’s son Joseph.

“We’re here building community with our neighbors on the banks too,” Sturgeon said. “A lot of good comes from little things. It will get bigger.”

Shepherd said that he’s doing everything he can to mail that flag to the Zola. He said the overall feedback from these past few weeks has encouraged him that he’s on the right path with this program.

He said they received donations throughout the day, and a lot of people who were just passing by stopped in just to see what was going on and donated. The surplus of generosity from the public and overall excitement from the participants left a lasting smile on his face. He said it feels good to help veterans in his community.

“This is a worthwhile program,” Shepherd said. “We need help to keep doing that for them.”

For more information about Hooks for Heroes, 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