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The
NEPVA Tournament Trail |
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An American Veterans Salute |
3-Man Bass Tournament
By Billy “Hawkeye” Decoteau
Lake Champlain, Plattsburgh, NY July
19th, 2008: Plattsburgh, New York’s
Crete Civic Center entertained
several thousand people during its
July 19th ‘BASS-BEACH-CRUISE’N-BASH’
weekend celebrations, however none
were as well received as the first
annual ‘An American Veterans Salute
3-Man Bass Tournament! “I think it’s
the most patriotic heart throbbing
event this entire weekend”, said
Rick Perry Plattsburgh’s man behind
the scenes coordinator.
According to Perry, the planning
stages for the ‘An American Veterans
Salute 3-Man Bass Tournament’ were
quite extensive and time consuming,
since FLW Outdoors STREN Series
four-day professional bass
tournament procedures took
precedence on all activities. “The
presence of the FLW Outdoors
Tournament Bass Trail paired with
our active military personnel and
our disabled veterans was simply
overwhelming! FLW Outdoors
Tournament Director Bill Taylor was
100% in support of our event, which
included moving the FLW weigh-in
stage to the Crete Civic Center,”
replied Perry. (It should be noted
that the FLW outdoors is the
strongest supportive Bass Fishing
organization for our military
forces.(
www.FLWOutdoors.com)
An early morning briefing introduced
New York Army National Guard
Commander Lt Colonel Dennis Deeley,
a Bronze Star recipient, and
Plattsburgh’s Army Reserve Sgt Ryan
Williams, accompanied with eight
volunteer active military personal
bass anglers, to their FLW STREN
Series Boat Captains, disabled
American Veteran partners along with
specific 3-Man Bass Tournament
rules.
The words of our National Anthem
filled the air of the Wilcox Launch
filtering unto the streets of
downtown Plattsburgh, as 10
Professional FLW STREN Series Bass
Anglers, 10 Disabled Veteran
Anglers, accompanied with their 10
active military partners, dressed in
camouflaged fatigues representing
every branch of service, saluted
‘Ole Glory’ from the decks of their
bass boats.
“What really amassed me were the
large number of military and
civilian personal along the banks
that came for the morning take-off,
as everyone was bowing their heads
in prayer then saluting our American
Flag. I stood there hugging my wife
as we thanked God for bringing me
home safely from Vietnam,” were the
tearful words from one Plattsburgh,
NY veteran.
One-by-one boat captains idled their
way pass a crowd of cheering
spectators, as the ten 3-Man Teams
then jumped on plane heading towards
their specific area of competition,
which was off-limits to the Top-10
FLW STREN Series Anglers. Listening
to each angler’s name, rank and
branch of service brought tears of
America Pride to everyone’s eyes. “I
just can’t tell you how much this
bass tournament means to my husband
after his recent tour in Iraq. He
told me, he felt personally honored
to be partnered with a disabled
veteran angler, let alone a
professional bass angler,” mentioned
one wife of an active National Guard
Sergeant. Adding, “It sent chills
down my spine, as my husbands name
was announced, it just made me so
proud to be an American!”
Don Gauvin Editor and Chief of
Angler Productions television series
‘THE BASS BUREAU………Where the Road
meets the Water’ seemed simply blown
away with true military compassion
as he and his camera crew covered
every phase of the tournament. “We
have never before covered a more
Patriotic tribute to Our American
Heroes!” Adding with a smile, “Not
only is history being made in the
Bass Angling World, but the FLW
Outdoors and Plattsburgh’s Mayor
Kasprzak have not forgotten
American’s Foundational Strengths
representing the Freedom we all
enjoy in this wonderful country!”
With that said, Angler Production
cameras focused in on Lake City
Choppers Casey Spiegel as a group of
Motorcyclist, Muscle Cars and
Antique Classic Automobiles prepared
to take a scenic tour of the
Adirondacks. (www.northcountrychamber.com)
“North End Harley Davidson is just
one of the many sponsor displays
that will showcase our drive through
weigh-in,” said Perry. Walking
through the weigh-in area it was
obvious Rick Perry and Michelle
Powers of the North Country Chamber
of Commerce coupled with the
dedicated unselfish support from FLW
Outdoors STREN Series Tournament
Director Ron Lappin and his crew had
left no stones unturned. Seating
areas were setup opposite the
weigh-in stage, antique cars and
motorcycles were scattered
throughout the Crete Civic Center,
while the aroma of food-vendors
offerings filled the air dancing to
the music of Glass Onion and the
Legendary Mero Brothers Bands.
One of the most visited and
appreciated booths was that set up
by the New York National Guard.
Guardsmen surrounded by military
support vehicles manned their booth
escorting visitors through typical
living quarters representing what
soldiers’ experience in the field
while serving in Iraq. The National
Guard also provided an assortment of
give-a-way prizes to accompany the
games they had setup for children.
Assigned drivers assembled their tow
vehicles in numeric order at the
Wilcox Launch as each of the
returning ten 3-Man Teams were
loaded unto their trailers. Lake
City Choppers (www.LakeCityChoppers.com)
Casey Spiegel saddled one of his
unique award winning Harley Softail
Choppers following the flashing
lights of a Plattsburgh Police
escort cruiser. Waving to the crowds
of people in route to the Crete
Civic Center, Mayor Donald Kasprzak
sat at the helm of the Marine USA,
Inc (www.MarineUSAinc.com)
Nitro 911 CDC lead Bass Boat with
active National Guardsmen Sgt. Rick
Dumais and Disabled Navy Veteran
Chief James Hough.
Chauffeured to the weigh-in stage
each 3-man team was greeted with
standing ovations, whistles, cheers
and American Flag waving family
member fans. Although every team
worn star spangled smiles, only one
team seemed to set the crowd in an
uproar as their names were
announced. Boat Captain Steve
Williams and his son active Army
Reserve Sgt. Ryan Williams smiled as
tears of American Pride and Honor
flowed down everyone cheeks. Paired
with Bronze Star disabled Veteran
Marc Felio the team weighed in four
bass for 9.3 lbs.
As each team crossed the weigh-in
stage, the leaders board bounced
back and forth, that is until
Professional Bass Angler Randy
Yarnall (www.RandyYarnall.com),
U.S. Army Lt. Colonel Dennis Deeley
and Disable Veteran Army Sgt John
Coryea handed FLW Tournament
Director Ron Lapin the teams 5-bass
limit. When the scales finally
settled Lapin called out 14.15 lbs,
anchored with a 4.3 lb Lunker
smallmouth bass. Yarnall a sponsored
member of the Elite RSR Angling Team
rifled his teams’ way into first
place, overshadowing West Virginia
Professional Angler and Bassmaster
Champion Dan Welch’s Team by almost
two pounds.
With only one team to weigh-in their
five-bass limit, Boat Captain and
Author of Bass Fishing 101 Lake
Champlain (www.ThefamilyBoat.com)
Dale Brown, Sgt Tony Turner and
Disabled Army Veteran Jeremy
Renadette approached the scales.
Weighing the teams largest bass
first Dale Brown threw his fist in
the air and the
yelled….”Yes-Yes-Yes…All Right,” to
Lappin’s official announcement of
4.5 lbs. Brown’s team had secured
the Tournaments Lake City Choppers
‘Hog’ Award by a mere .2 oz! Adding
four more bass to the scales, the
team watched closely as the scale
jumped up and down. When it finally
settled FLW Tournament Director Ron
Lappin called out, “Five Bass all
alive for 14.5 lbs.” Brown’s team
claimed 2nd Place, dropping Welch’s
Team into 3rd Place with 13.2 lbs.
Approaching the awards table to
standing ovations Pennsylvania Pro
Angler Randy Yarnall and his
Championship Team revealed their
weightless Senko winning techniques.
As each member of the 3-Man Team
received Berkley Rod and Reel
combinations, Yarnall took the
microphone and with teary eyes
personally thanked each and every
veteran for their unselfish service
to our country. Randy then handed
teammate Disabled Veteran John
Coryea his rod and reel as a
personal gift to show Yarnall’s
appreciation. God Bless and Best
Bass’n.
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