Marlin Gatlin, left, a wounded warrior from Mississippi, stands with fishing partner Larry Horseman, a retired L-83 president.
L-83’s Horseman partners up with Army vet from Mississippi
THE INTERNATIONAL UNION and Local 83 (Kansas City, Mo.) made substantial donations to the annual Wounded Warriors “Fishing for Freedom” tournament on Truman Lake recently, becoming one of the event’s primary sponsors, along with IBEW Local 124, also of Kansas City.
Hosted by the Leavenworth, Kan., Bass Fishing Club, the tournament matches up wounded veterans with boat-owning volunteers who want to give something back to those who have given so much in the service of our nation.
This year’s tournament was held October 11-12 at the Long Shoal Marina near Warsaw, Mo. Retired Local 83 President Larry Horseman was among 150 volunteers — many of them from Kansas City area unions — to partner with a wounded veteran. Horseman fished with Marlin Gatlin, an Army vet from Mississippi.
“We had a great time together on the lake,” Horseman said, even though fishing conditions were poor. “We talked about our families, fishing and a lot of other things.”
Local 83 has supported the tournament for several years, but this is the first time the Boilermakers union has been recognized as a main sponsor, Horseman noted. In appreciation of the Boilermakers’ support, the union receives verbal recognition during ceremonies, and the union’s seal is included on tournament staff clothing and the organization’s website (www.fishingforfreedom.us).
