A Manatee County organization invited 12 wounded veterans out for a day on the water recently.
The Bradenton Elks Lodge put on this event to give veterans a chance to go out on a boat in the ocean, get a little sun, and catch some fish.
The veterans returned with their prizes, 12-inch long redfish that they caught while fishing on the trip.
This is the first time the Bradenton Elks Lodge has put on this event and officials said it was very successful.
For veterans like Jim Kelly, the trip means a lot because he can be around fellow vets.
"We talked about Vietnam and some of the other places we have been, and I think it is so important to help each other in these events," Kelly said. "We have two guys here, one in a wheelchair and one who can hardly walk with problem knees, and it’s just been a great day for all of us."
After the veterans returned from the fishing trip, they were invited back to the Bradenton Elks Lodge to cook and enjoy their catch.
The Bradenton Elks Lodge has already submitted paperwork for another grant in order to host another fishing event in the future.