LYNN – Local veterans enjoyed a complimentary day of fishing, food, and fun at the 2nd Annual Veterans Freedom Fish derby on Saturday.
The city’s Economic Development & Industrial Corporation (EDIC/Lynn), the Department of Veterans Services, Lynn Housing Authority & Neighborhood Development, and the Lynn Veterans Council, and the Mayor’s office worked together to host the first derby in 2019, and it was a hit. They returned to host the event for the second year in 2022 and it was even more successful.
Veterans took to the sea from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., trying to find the longest and heaviest fish. Other veterans not interested in fishing took a pleasure cruise from Lynn to Boston. They returned to Lynn harbor for a cookout, raffles, and performances by Lynn English’s JROTC.
Sergeant Jimmy Wood, an Army veteran, spent the day fishing with his crew. He brought back a fish weighing in at 13.8 pounds, the heaviest blue fish of the competition. This was his first fishing derby in a while, he said.
“I’ve never [participated in a fishing derby] with veterans. It was my first time. I think I’ll be here next year,” Wood said. “It was very refreshing, the breeze, I felt safe with my crew. I would definitely do it again.”
At the cookout lunch after the derby, the crowd honored the oldest veteran present, Bob West. He is a 93-year-old Army veteran and spent the day on the boat “Neva Enuff.”
EDIC Executive Director Jim Cowdell, one of the organizers, said that the event raised around $20,000 this year, which will be divided evenly between the Lynn Veterans Association and Disabled and Limbless Veterans Inc.
Mayor Jared Nicholson spoke to the crowd at the cookout, thanking them for their service.
“I think it’s important that we’re always doing our part to thank our veterans, and it’s also a great opportunity to showcase what we have here in Lynn on the water,” he said.
Cowdell said that the turnout “made [his] heart feel warm” and that it was “a gratifying experience.
“It’s a great community, it really is. Sometimes you hear bad things about the city. It is such a great city,” he said. “When you have an event like this, it really amplifies that.”
Feeding everyone at the derby was George Markos of Brothers Deli. He donated both his time and enough food to feed the 300 people in attendance.
“We are one big community here,” Markos said. “Friends, relatives, we are all one family…. I will do this as long as I live because I love what I see here.”
“I appreciate the vets, this is the main thing, this is why I wanted to do this thing because these people gave us the freedom to do this. That’s what should be on the top of everything…. What we do is very little, but I hope one day we can be [like] them,” he continued.
Nahant Veteran Services Officer Jon Lazar called the event “phenomenal” and “remarkable.” He said that all the people he spoke to were appreciative of the organizers and volunteers.
“I can’t believe all the work that went into this. The slew of volunteers, both at the tents and the food, and the guys who donated their boats and time all day today– I’ve never seen anything like this,” he said. “You couldn’t ask for better, this was a ten…. Just to be around so many veterans today just shooting the breeze and [telling] stories. My favorite is ragging on the Army guys because I’m a Navy guy… The Army guys are still trying to catch up!”
