Giving Wounded War Vets a Day on the Water

At a Selectmen's meeting at Wednesday night, representatives from the Maddies Anglers Club laid out plans for an event this summer that would provide 50 wounded war veterans and their guests the chance to enjoy a day of fishing and boating in the waters off of Marblehead.

Appearing before the board Wednesday was club president Chip Wolcott, who requested permission to use a local school parking lot as a place for the war veterans to park their vehicles and town dock space for the event, which is scheduled to be held on July 28.

The event, dubbed Operation Neptune, is a collaboration between the anglers club, Raytheon Corp., and the Wounded Warriors Project aimed at providing a day of fun in the sun to area veterans who were injured while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Wolcott said the Wounded Warriors Project will be organizing the 50 Warrior Teams and the angling club will provide transportation to the as well as fishing vessels, captains and crew members.

At the end of fishing and boating, the veterans will be invited to return to shore for a tented lunch event at the Boston Yacht Club. Raytheon Corp. will be donating the funds for a breakfast, the tent and a lunch for up to 250 people.

Prior to granting permission to use town dock space, board Chairwoman Jackie Belf-Becker praised the group for organizing the event.

"I just want to say thank you so much for planning this great project," Belf-Becker said. "What a wonderful thing to do."

Started by Mark Magee, a past owner of , and several of his friends, The Maddies Anglers club has grown to include more than 100 members and "continues its commitment toward community and camaraderie on and off the water," according to release.