The Purple Heart Anglers Take A Vet Fishing event was a great success. Glory Hole Sports had about 30 vets attend. They wanted to say thank you to eveyone who donated their boats and time, and thanks to everyone who donated money and prizes. Almost everyone won something thanks to the generosity of our customers! Here is a note Randy from Purple Heart Anglers wrote to us about the event:

My wife Deborah and I fished New Melones Lake several years ago and thought it was beautiful. We stopped at Glory Hole Sports to get some snacks, find out what the fish were biting on and get some gas. Sitting in the truck outside we thought it was just another bait and tackle store like so many at the lakes around the USA. When we left we both remarked about the cleanliness of store, the service and the kindness of the people behind the counter.

After the Purple Heart Anglers was started in 2009 we thought the lake would be a wonderful place to have a disabled veterans fishing event. I had heard good things about Glory Hole Sports and the next time we went to the lake we stopped at the store and met Melanie. She and her husband Dan are the owners. When I explained what PHA is about she said they would support us anytime we had and event and they would be honored to be of service to the disabled veterans participating in the PHA program. I've long heard the story of the Jumping frog of Calaveras County and Angels Camp but after the fishing event Saturday I realized there is more to the area than frogs and fishing - it is a patriotic community.

Melanie and Dan are strong and respected leaders in Calaveras County and with a few calls and a notice in their newsletter there were people from the area donating raffle prizes, food, boats to be used for the fishing and people wanting to show up to say thanks to the veterans. To say this was one of the best fishing events yet would be an understatement. Melanie, Dan, their volunteers and our regular volunteers worked together to make this a great day for the disabled veteran participants.

Doug McArthur and Team McFishing showed up with 6 boats. They're not just pro fishing guides, they are First Responders, Paramedics, Police Officers and others that serve the community. The safety of our participants is always first and having them as volunteers to this program is one of the main reasons we are successful. They do this to honor those that have served in our military. Our fleet of volunteer boats is growing. There were other pro guides at the event and as I post photos I will be acknowledging them as well. They come to all the events they can.

The First Annual Disabled Veteran fishing event at New Melones was a success thanks to Melanie and Dan, their community of friends, the new volunteers that came and those of you who keep showing up. There are disabled veterans all around the United States and Saturday those that came to New Melones were freely given the love and gratitude they deserve.

I am honored to be a part of this and grateful to those that participated.

Thank you

Randy Houston
President, Purple Heart Anglers