Free Fishing Trip Set For Florida Wounded Veterans

TALLAHASSEE, FL — Tampa Bay area Purple Heart recipients and veterans with service-connected disabilities are invited to sign up for an upcoming fishing trip free of charge courtesy of Operation Outdoor Freedom.

Sponsored by Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam, Operation Outdoor Freedom was launched in 2011 to provide wounded veterans access to fishing, boating, hunting and other outdoor events at no cost to them. The organization funds all excursion through private donations.

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“Operation Outdoor Freedom is a special way of connecting the natural resources our state is blessed with to the men and women who’ve courageously and selflessly put their lives on the line,” Putnam said in a statement announcing the upcoming trip. “It’s the least we can do for those who have done so much for us.”

The trips are organized and hosted by the Florida Forest Service. The upcoming offshore fishing trip is set for Tuesday, June 20 in Carrabelle. Since only a limited number of people can go on the trip, veterans are asked to apply for a random drawing in advance. Veterans selected will be notified by email prior to the June 20 fishing trip.

To be considered for the drawing, veterans must be Florida residents who were honorably discharged. They must have a “service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or greater from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs,” the state’s website explains. Purple Heart recipients are also eligible.

For more information about Operation Outdoor Freedom, to apply for the trip or learn more about corporate sponsorship, visit the Florida Department of Agriculture online.

Photo courtesy of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services