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‘Frostbite’ fishing tournament set for today
By Greg Gulas
The first “Frostbite Bass Tournament” is scheduled for today with the Youngstown State bass fishing team set to assist the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 2 of Youngstown in what they hope will become an annual fundraiser for its group.
“To be able to help the local Disabled American Veterans Chapter will be an amazing experience. I am hoping to continue assisting them with other upcoming projects as well,” said Chuck Cremeans, founder and former president of the YSU bass fishing team. “Veterans have provided us with the many freedoms that we currently enjoy and after their help with our club, our club is happy to be able to give back to their organization as well. It’s a great group for a great cause and I fully expect an excellent turnout for the competition.”
The tournament is set to get under way at 7 a.m. with the first boat flight launched from Mosquito Lake State Park Marina in Cortland.
The goal and motto of the DAV is to fulfill their promises to America’s men and women who have served in any branch of the military.
Founded on Sept. 25, 1921, the event will be held just short of their 94th anniversary as a group.
“For 94 consecutive years we have been able to keep that promise. Under the leadership of Leo Connelly and Tom Moss the past two years, Chapter 2 of Youngstown has been able to bring their promise and mission to the Mahoning County forefront,” tournament co-chair Patrick Murphy said. “We now have a new meeting place on Westchester Drive in Austintown and have become very active in the area for our Veteran Brothers and Sisters.”
There are many ways the group provides assistance to its local chapter, including food distribution to approximately 100 Mahoning Valley Veterans each month.
“We also raised enough money to purchase a new van, which is used to transport veterans when they need to travel back and forth to the Cleveland Clinic,” Murphy said. “We provide full military funerals to veterans and recently assisted in helping to raise funds in order to provide transportation for blind veterans when they attended a golf outing in Iowa.”
The group also assists veterans in filing claims, also lending a helping hand to those with special needs with hospital beds, wheel chair ramps, scooters and walkers among many other needs.
“As you can see, our need to raise funds is never ending. This Frostbite Bass Tournament is just one of our many ways to get both the Veterans involved and the community aware of our organization and actions,” Murphy said. “Any help and assistance is greatly appreciated and all monies that we take in stay right here in the Mahoning Valley. We return 100% over to the Veterans. Because of that new meeting place, the entire group, which numbers in excess of 300, has become very active in our many activities.”
Members and officers of Chapter 2 are all volunteers with Murphy and Jim Guzman serving as co-chairs of the tournament.
Further information on the tournament and entry can be obtained by calling Murphy at either 330-402-9481 or 330-482-5908.
Cost is $200 per boat with all late fees waived.