By Mary-Justine Lanyon
Lake Arrowhead has fewer fish in it today than it did prior to Friday, Sept. 18. Three fish to be exact.
For a number of years, the local Elks Lodge has sponsored a trip up to Lake Arrowhead for veterans who receive their care at the VA Loma Linda Healthcare System.
On Sept. 18, 22 veterans traveled up the mountain, escorted by six members of the Patriot Guard Riders. As they passed the Elks Lodge on Highway 18, they were greeted by a large crowd of Elks and Blue Star Moms, cheering and waving flags.
They made their way to the marina, where they enjoyed a breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage links and pancakes, prepared by the Arrowhead Lake Association and served by Blue Star Moms.
Following their breakfast, the veterans went out on the lake with volunteer boat captains. One boat held those who wanted to fish.
One veteran caught one bass, another caught two trout.
Blue Star Moms served breakfast to the veterans, including Justine Blankenbeckler (in the pink cap).
The rest of the veterans were not disappointed but enjoyed touring the lake, being shown the sights by their boat captains. “It’s not called catching,” one said.
“I had a great time,” said Justine Blankenbeckler. At one point in her tour, she said, their boat “sped across the lake,” which she found exhilarating.
Army veteran Mel Ochoa, who served in Vietnam in 1967-1968, noted this was his 10th time coming up to Lake Arrowhead. He did not plan to fish, unlike Navy veteran Richard Van Schaick, who served in Japan. This was his first time coming on the trip. He didn’t catch anything but had a great time.
And Marine veteran Deryl Thomas was on the trip for the fifth time. On past trips, he said, he enjoyed the touring and napping. “The water lulled me to sleep,” he said. At lunch, he was proud to say he had stayed awake this year.
Back on land, the three vans took the veterans to the Elks Lodge where they enjoyed a lunch of either a Philly cheesesteak or a chicken sandwich, accompanied by potato salad and cole slaw. Blue Star Moms took their drink orders and visited with the veterans as they ate.
Aaron Hunt, a recreational therapist at the Loma Linda VA who coordinates the trip, thanked Lise Shipley and her crew. Shipley had obtained a grant that funded the outing for the veterans. He also thanked her crew, the boat captains, the Blue Star Moms, the ALA and the Patriot Guard.
One member of the Patriot Guard commented that it was his honor to escort these veterans.
As they prepared to leave the mountain, the veterans and the caregivers who had accompanied them gathered for a photo.
“We’re already looking forward to next year,” one veteran was heard to say.
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