Military veterans given a day to fish on the lake

Friday, Aug. 15, 2014

SALT LAKE CITY — Aug. 2 dawned bright and clear at Soldiers Creek Recreation Area at Strawberry Reservoir Aug. 2 as 50 boats prepared to take 100 military veterans out for a day of fishing.

This was the third year that the non-profit Utah Disabled Veterans Fishing Foundation had organized the event, which also included a barbecue lunch.

“It’s just to get some of the veterans out. One year, one guy said that he hadn’t been out in nine months,” said Louis Amarosa, who, along with Tony Ratola and Todd Hall, form the foundation.

All three men are military veterans and work at IM Flash Technologies in Lehi, which was the event’s primary sponsor. Amarosa and Ratola also are members of the Knights of Columbus council at Saint John the Baptist Parish in Draper. Amarosa said Ray Folks, a Knight from the council in Payson, is extremely involved, as well.

The event depends entirely on volunteers, from those providing the boats to those supplying the coffee and donuts, Amarosa said. “It’s all donations of time and money.”

Veterans came from as far as Tooele to participate; many were joined by family members. Daniel Westerfield, a Korean War veteran, and his son Dean Westerfield, a Navy veteran, camped overnight before going out on the water.

Daniel Westerfield, who said he won a prize for catching the most fish at last year’s event, said he enjoyed not only the chance to spend time with his son but also to meet other veterans.

Richard Krulisky, who served five years in the U.S. Navy, came from Eagle Mountain with his young sons to give them the experience of fishing from a boat, he said, although in the past he has come to the event by himself. 

“I come out every year for the veteran’s fishing day,” Krulisky said. “This is one time of year that I love. All the veterans come out; some of my buddies are out here. It’s nice we get to go out. All of these people volunteer for the veterans. It makes me feel really good, it feels like we’re still cherished.”

Russ Smith, one of those who volunteered to take the veterans out in his boat, said he volunteered because “it’s the right thing to do.” 

Although fish finders indicated plenty of fish in the lake, few were biting that day.  Smith and the U.S. Army veteran who was with him in the boat, Lisa Lano, caught only one small trout, which they threw back.

Despite that, Lano wasn’t disappointed. “What a way to spend a Saturday,” she said. “Isn’t success being out on a boat on a lake in the mountains?”