Gathering of Eagles - North Carolina

May 19, 2007
U.S. Coast Guard Station
Fort Macon, North Carolina

Report by Ross 'Bubba' McDowell

It was difficult getting out of bed Saturday morning. Saturdays are for sleeping late, lounging in your PJ's for most of the morning, sipping coffee on the front porch. But this Saturday I had to get in my truck and drive 3 hours to Moorehead City, North Carolina. Just to help a bunch of strangers to take some soldiers fishing.
Wont have time to mow the grass, play my banjo or tinker around in my shop.

Poor me.

As the roaming gnome said - "Oh, Bull Hockily!"

Rodney Carroll (YakFisher to all you ground-floor Eagles) had warned me that it was going to be Amazing! Inspiring! Misty Eyed Emotionally Draining!
I reckon I'll not take his words lightly again.

Saturday May 19, 2007 was a great day for me.
Not as great as the day I married my child bride, but it was a goodern.

I got there about 9:00, and there wasnt a whole lot going on. A few people here and there setting up chairs and tables, or getting the grills fired up.

Of course, the first person I saw was Bob Chamberlain. He's always there, always doing something. Always saying "I dont know how to do nothing but I'll try". Every time you turn around and see something that needs to be done, Bob's already doing it.

See whut ah mean?
Dont remember what was on the other end of that rope, but it had to be held.

Back to the story ...

At this point, Rodney told me that they had 49 volunteer boats out on the water, with soldiers fishing. The real party starts when they begin coming back in. So, in the meantime we kill time.

Down at the docks (or piers or whatever. Awno, I'm a mountain boy.) I watched some folks doing a little fishing to pass the time.

Yea, I thought it was a strange way to fish too. All they caught was a digital camera. But they were mighty glad to have it. And there's Bob, helping out.

This lil feller likes boats ....

... alot.

Eagles: George, Jim and Bob

This is Dave Clites from Morrisville, NC. Remember the name.

There was a family there, a woman and three younguns. Susan, Logan, Hailey, and Maddison White.
I was told her husband is currently deployed in Iraq. After they had lunch, they were offered a trip out on one of the remaining available boats. They boated out to an island inhabited by wild horses. The kids got to run and play with the horses.

These kids' father, an American hero, is away in another land. He volunteered to go and fight for his country. He fights to secure the future liberty and pursuit of happiness for these beautiful children.
In his absence, another great American stepped up to serve as a substitute dad, if only for a couple of hours. His name is Dave Clites. He piloted the boat and took these pictures.