Deep Sea Angling Brings Wounded Warrior Project Alumni Together

ORANGE BEACH, Ala., Feb. 12, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Fishing is an age-old way to relax and catch up with lifelong friends. Thanks to a recent deep sea fishing outing, wounded veterans were provided the opportunity to reunite and bond with longstanding acquaintances and enjoy camaraderie with other injured service members in their area.

The deep sea angling trip in Orange Beach, Alabama was part of the Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) Alumni program which provides support through shared experiences for wounded service members and their families. The WWP Alumni program is one of 20 free programs and services that offers a wide range of activities and events to aid injured veterans in their recovery from the visible and invisible wounds of war.

Cortez Stewart, Navy veteran and WWP Alumnus, said the trip was an incredible opportunity for him and his wife to enjoy some much-needed relaxation.

"I had an amazing time," Cortez said. "I don't get out much so being able to do this in a safe and relaxed environment was great. I met other WWP Alumni at dinner, we exchanged numbers, and plan to do other things together soon."

Whether expert or amateur, any fisherman knows how thrilling it is to reel in a big fish. The group not only had that opportunity, but also cheered each other on and recaptured some military spirit by encouraging each other.

"That was the ultimate highlight for me: angling for the larger fish," Cortez said.

In addition to meeting the challenges of deep sea fishing, the WWP activity presented learning opportunities as well. Cortez learned more about the course of treatment recommended by his doctor, received helpful information about obtaining a service dog, and learned about how WWP selects Alumni for events.

WWP offers valuable avenues for injured veterans to connect, not only with each other, but to their communities. The challenges and dangers of isolation loom large for many returning service members, including Cortez. "For me, WWP helps me stay engaged with society. Before joining WWP, I kept to myself at home. Now I'm starting to get out more and I am thankful to WWP for helping me do that."

WWP is currently serving more than 100,000 wounded service members, their family members, and caregivers. WWP's Alumni program is one of 20 free programs and services available to help injured service members at every stage of recovery. Additionally, WWP has launched Warrior Care Network™, a $100 million investment to battle the invisible wounds of war by connecting thousands of warriors with world-class care. This is an innovative partnership between WWP and four renowned national academic medical centers: Emory Healthcare, Massachusetts General Hospital, Rush University Medical Center, and UCLA Health.

About Wounded Warrior Project
The mission of Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors. WWP's purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public's aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. To get involved and learn more, visit woundedwarriorproject.org.

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SOURCE Wounded Warrior Project