For the fifth consecutive year, veterans from Pell City’s Colonel Robert L. Howard State Veterans Home engaged in a biannual duel with the wily inhabitants of Lake Logan Martin. The fishing event is held every spring and fall to take advantage of cooler weather. Veterans’ Fall Fishing Day was last Wednesday, Sept. 27, when about two dozen veterans clambered aboard fully equipped bass boats and pontoon boats for their morning fishing excursions. 

The bass boats were manned by professional fishermen, home-based at Sylacauga Marine & ATV, and the pontoon boats were owner-manned and based at Woods Surfside Marina in Cropwell. Surfside Marina hosted the event.

Each boat held several veterans and a care-giving professional from the Veterans Home. 

When one of the veterans mentioned he was too warm, a caregiver opened his windbreaker and stretched his tee shirt out to provide for more air circulation. The caregiver then gently and lovingly brushed the veteran’s cheek. What care, respect and dedication these caregivers demonstrated! 

The veterans moved slowly due to their age and infirmities, but the eager gleam of the coming battle of anglers was evident in every eye. The fishing event has become so popular that the Veterans Home has it on their regular events calendar and veterans start signing up months before the next event to be sure they can secure a spot on a boat.

While the fishermen were out engaging their quarries, their luncheon was prepared by a group of volunteers led by Dawn and Jeff Lovell. The Lovells are both retired Navy veterans themselves, each with 28 years active duty. Dawn is a retired corpsman and Jeff is a retired Senior Chief. Dawn said she and Jeff love to volunteer, and they work with the veterans a couple of times each month where, “we bring and get smiles from the veterans.”  

Also volunteering and setting up the luncheon for the veterans were several staff members of America’s First Federal Credit Union, which has its home office in Birmingham.  America’s First CEO, Bill Connor, reported the idea of holding fishing outings for residents of the Veterans Home was hatched at a “Lakefest” event he attended five years ago. 

Mr. Connor pointed out that America’s First volunteers supply all of the delicious, homemade sides and deserts. They also grill hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken fingers. Icy cold drinks, consisting of water and soft drinks, were available to the thirsty veterans when they returned. The charcoal grills were lit and delicious smells wafted over the area. Weary but still excited veterans recounted their battles with denizens of Lake Logan Martin while lunch was served. 

Not all the veterans who rode from the Veteran’s Home were able to board a fishing boat. I noticed one such veteran in a motorized wheelchair, with a “license plate” that said “Normandy.” His name was “Little Bill” (James) Majors. “Little Bill” participated in the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944.

His 19^th birthday was two days earlier aboard a landing craft based in England. He graphically and sadly described the losses he witnessed at Normandy. He survived that day and then participated in a second landing in the south of France. I asked him what he thought about the changes in the world since then. In a barely audible voice, he said, “There’s so much more meanness now than when I was younger.”

What did I learn from this event? I learned that the elderly veterans at our Veterans Home all have distinct and individual and valuable stories in their heads, just waiting to come out into the ears of any willing listener. They are our living history. I learned each and every one of these veterans deserve our heart-felt thanks for the sacrifices they and their families made in days long gone by. We can never thank them enough. 

I learned that while the health and physical capability of these veterans is failing, under those proud wrinkled brows their minds are still very active. I learned that an attentive ear listening to their whispered narratives can bring wisdom and respect to anyone willing to listen. Why don’t you stop by the Veterans Home and take some time to meet “Little Bill” and some of our other great American heroes?