United States -(AmmoLand.com)- WWA held an open house to celebrate the grand opening of the new headquarters located in Cape Coral on Tuesday, February 9.
Attending the event were Wounded Warrior Anglers members, American Tackle staff members, friends, dignitaries and financial donors. Dedicated to servicing wounded veterans, caregivers and children in need, the Wounded Warrior Anglers headquarters serves as a training facility to help local veterans through community outreach programs and services.
Judy Souders, vice president and co-founder of the group, said the WWA worked out of her home for the first several years of its existence.
“It’s something we had a dream about since we formed it. It’s taken us a while to get the funds to get this location,” Souders said. “Now that it’s come to fruition, we’re excited we can help veterans and families.”
David contacted Don Morse of American Tackle in early 2015 about hosting a rod building class.
“We decided to fully sponsor the first class and become a partnering sponsor to help all future rod building endeavors.” said Morse. “During that first class we talked about turning it into a program where warriors could be taught to build rods to help supplement their income. It was American Tackle’s hope to see the program expand to a permanent facility where warriors could be taught and could hone their skills. It was important for American Tackle to support the grand opening event and see what our first rod-building class had turned into. We will continue to sponsor WWA rod building and help whenever we can.” added Morse.
Many of these veterans suffer Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression and the Wounded Warrior Anglers organization caters to these veterans through alternative therapies – namely getting them on the water fishing and teaching them to build their own fishing rods.
“It’s the veterans who gain the most benefit from this program.” Mike Plainte, a former Navy Corpsman, said he moved to Southwest Florida in 2012 and became a recluse. “One day I met David and he told me to go online and check it out,” Plainte said. “Now I fish for a living. I’m a kayak angler, I do charters and tournaments. Wounded Warrior Anglers organization lifted me up.”
Among the guests on hand were Lee County Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass and Cape City Councilmember Richard Leon. Pendergrass’ father was a World War II veteran and said that when he was young there were no outreach programs like this for people like his father.
“It’s amazing what the community does now with groups like this since the government doesn’t really provide services,” Pendergrass said. “This helps the veterans have a place to come to rather than sit home and get more depressed.”
“It’s been a 6-year project to get to this point and we’re glad we can impact that many more veterans,” president and co-founder David Souders said. “I was injured in 2008 and it became my own personal therapy and it’s blossomed since then.”
For additional information about Wounded Warrior Anglers, visit WoundedWarriorAnglers.org.
About American Tackle Company:
With more than three decades servicing the tackle industry, Team American Tackle is still leading the way with innovations and improvements that every angler will appreciate. Being avid anglers and rod builders ourselves, we take pride in offering the ultimate in diversity, durability – and above all – performance. From rod blanks to reel seats, ferrules to finish, grips to guides – we are committed to providing the very best quality rod building components.
For more information, visit: https://americantackle.us.