The 3rd Annual American Heroes Saltwater Challenge Starts Sunday

With the 66^th annual this year also comes the 3^rd Annual American Heroes Saltwater Challenge. From September 18-22, approximately 12 members of the military, currently undergoing treatment at government hospitals in Maryland and Virginia, will arrive for five days of fishing and Island hospitality. These honored guests come at the invitation of the Derby, as well as the family of Sarah and Bob Nixon, owners of the , , and in Chilmark.

The American Heroes Saltwater Challenge is the brainchild of the Nixon’s youngest son, Jack, who came up with the idea when he was just seven years old. The story goes that Jack saw a newspaper photo essay about veterans recently home from Iraq and Afghanistan, and told his father he wished the veterans could fish the Derby. “I think what he was thinking was, ‘There’s nothing like catching a fish, or the feeling you get when everybody says hi to you at Squid Row. I feel so good here, maybe these vets can feel good here too,” explains Jack’s mother, Sarah Nixon. Jack’s parents, recognizing a good idea when they saw one, put plans into action. Three weeks later, some six veterans were fishing in the Derby.

“Last year, we had a young 23-year-old vet named Rahul Harpalani who wouldn’t come out of his room, who said he didn’t even like fishing and he wasn’t going to come,” said Nixon. “But I don’t take no for an answer and before he left, he told me that being here was such a turning point. That he did something he didn’t ever think he was interested in, he went somewhere he’d never been and now he’s started new job and he’s training other soldiers.”

The Nixons are never sure exactly who will be able to make it, but they are hoping this year there will be at least 12 veterans participating. Different this year than years before, all of the participants will be coming straight from hospitals. “This is a real moment of relief for them,” said Nixon. “They will all be going back to the hospital when they leave here.” Nixon and Jack will pick everyone up on Sunday. The group will travel to the Island together and onto the Beach Plum Inn, where they will all be staying.

“The outpouring of support has been heartening and beautiful,” said Nixon. “Every single charter captain in Menemsha donates their time to this. And to do that during the Derby, to make that sacrifice, is amazing. Those boats could be triple booked.”

A group of surf-casters organized by Janet Messino will be fishing with the veterans off Chappaquiddick—“another group giving up their time when they could be taking people out,” said Nixon. “People have really made a beautiful and conscious effort to be a part of it,” she said, including Derby committee members, chefs and friends lending a hand of gratitude to those who have sacrificed so much for the rest of us. “I never knew there was a Mary Kay woman on the island until she pulled up with a car full of lotion,” said Nixon.

If you want to catch glimpse of these American Heroes, you can see them every morning when they take off from Squid Row in Menemsha or every evening when they arrive at the weigh station in Edgartown. For those interested in getting involved, there are many much needed contributions that can be made to the Saltwater Challenge. Donations of time and/or goods are welcome and needed. An outright donation of $4,000 will sponsor one soldier and is tax deductible. “This doesn’t have to be just from one person,” said Nixon. “We have people who have gotten together as groups, beach groups or play groups, and raised whatever they can” For more information contact Maria Black at 508-645-9454 or mblack@innsatmenemsha.com.