Page 83 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2022

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This saying originated during the Korean War, but we can say this about all veterans. Everyone can give back something in their own way to those who already gave so much. The fishing guides for Shore Thing Fishing Charters found an excellent way to give back to veterans. Each year, they invite some South Mississippi soldiers to fish with them.
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“Years ago, I fished with Brigadier General William Glasgow when he was at Camp Shelby in Hattiesburg,” recalls Sonny Schindler with Shore Thing Fishing Charters in Bay St. Louis. “I mentioned that we wanted to put something together for Veterans Day. His response was unbelievable. He said, ‘How many soldiers do you need and when do you need them?’”
Now retired, the general still wields considerable influence. Each year, Schindler asks him to send some soldiers to Bay St. Louis Harbor for a fun day on the water.
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“We usually get about 30 soldiers for each event,” Schindler says. “It’s always a neat mix of people. Some are barely out of high school and some are finishing their military careers and preparing to retire. Many are just returning from deployment while others are getting ready to go. It’s always such an absolute honor to have these fine men and women on our boats.”
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Schindler tries to schedule the event close to Veterans Day. However, circumstances sometimes dictate date changes. One year a hurricane forced a postponement. At other times, military necessity or something else compels a date change.
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Some highly skilled fishermen arrive ready to catch a limit. Others never fished in their lives. Some soldiers just want to relax on the boat and enjoy the peace and quiet so they can put things inside of them aside, if only for a few hours.
story by John N. Felsher photos by Sonny Schindler
“Fishing brings everybody together,” Schindler observes. “It’s a nice change of pace for them. The main thing is just to get out there and have a good time, catching fish or just relaxing. Some soldiers tell stories about deployments and others don’t talk much about their experiences. Regardless, it’s a good way for them to decompress.”
After fishing, everyone goes to The Blind Tiger in Bay St. Louis for a meal. The guides clean the fish and bring some into the restaurant. The chefs cook it for everyone to eat. The restaurant furnishes the rest. If someone would rather take fish home, that person can order a different meal.
“Thomas Genin, the owner of The Blind Tiger, always does a meal for everyone involved,” Schindler says. “He blocks off half the restaurant and everybody has a good time – all at no cost
to any of the military people. Our guides donate the day and Thomas donates the food. These men and women in uniform are the reason we get to live the free life we do. It’s our way of saying ‘thank you’ and ‘we appreciate your service.’ Everybody has something that they can give or do to say ‘thank you’ to these men and women of our Armed Forces. We make our living fishing so that’s just our way of saying ‘thank you’ to these brave men and women!”
For more information about this program or Shore Thing Fishing Charters, call Schindler at 228.342.2295.
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living | www.smliving.net
July 2022 |
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