Local nonprofit Warrior Service will offer veterans a weekend full of crabbing, salmon fishing and fellowship in Blaine, Birch Bay, Sandy Point and Bellingham from Sept. 11 through 13.
Sixty veterans, both local and from out of state, will participate.
“That’ll be the most that we’ve ever had thus far, so it just keeps growing,” said David Libby, founder of Warrior Service and an Army veteran.
On Friday, Sept. 11, there will be a meet and greet for veterans and the volunteer boat captains at the Squalicum Yacht Club in Bellingham at 6 p.m.
Salmon fishing will take place on Saturday, Sept. 12, with boats leaving from Blaine, Birch Bay, Sandy Point and Bellingham. That evening, there will be a barbecue dinner at 4 p.m. at the Squalicum Yacht Club.
The morning of Sunday, Sept. 13, veterans will go out crabbing, leaving from the same locations. At 2 p.m., everyone will gather for a late seafood lunch at the American Legion Post 86 in Blaine.
Fish and crab will be served, and Drayton Harbor Oyster Co. will also provide oysters.
The event will offer free haircuts for veterans, live music and raffles. It’s free to attend, and veterans are encouraged to bring family members or friends.
Around 300 people attended last year. Libby expects 400 to 500 attendees this year.
This event has occurred for more than 10 years, starting as a simple day-long salmon fishing excursion before turning into a multi-day event, particularly because a number of veterans travel from out of state to attend.
Warrior Service hosts several hunting and fishing events for veterans across the country, including boar hunting in Texas, redfish fishing in Louisiana and elk hunting in Wyoming.
Libby started the organization in 2014 after retiring from the Army, because he missed the camaraderie and wanted to provide an experience for veterans to get them out in nature and connect while integrating back into civilian life.
“I was in leadership when I was in the military and I got out and I kind of missed my guys, and I got my guys back,” Libby said.
The organization is entirely volunteer-run, and all proceeds go back to supporting veterans. For more information on the organization or to make a donation, visit warriorservice.org.
