by Nick Stubbs
Thunderbolt editor

A warm sun, blue skies, the gentle lapping of water on the hull of the boat, plenty of cool drinks in the ice chest, and live bait dancing at the end of a line; for many Tampa Bay residents, it’s their reason for living here. For a few dis- abled servicemembers, the experience may be their reason to go on living.

Lacking mobility, full body functionality or diminished mental capacity or nervous system problems, a handful of injured veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are being remind- ed of the good things in life thanks to the work of a Tampa Bay couple determined to ensure the warriors who gave so much don’t have to give up the simple pleasure of a day on the water.

Freedom Excursions is a new non-profit organization that began two years ago on a shoe-string by Bryan and Marilyn Custer, avid boaters and outdoor enthusiasts. It was when their son joined the Army that Mr. Custer was inspired.

The young man entered the Army with his parents’ blessing and a desire to play basketball in the service. He asked one of his NCOs about playing, and was given an abrupt, eye-opening answer, recounts Mr. Custer.

“He told him if he comes back from Iraq with all his body parts, then they could talk about whether he plays basketball,” Mr. Custer recalls. “That’s what got me to thinking.”

The Hillsborough County deputy sheriff began to wonder what would happen if his son were to lose an arm or a leg. Would he be able to enjoy going boating and fishing like he always had, or would those days be over? He then wondered about the vets who were injured and if they had a way of enjoying the sun and water.

A licensed boat captain, Mr. Custer and his wife began to ask around. They made a connec- tion with the Veteran’s Administration hospital in Tampa and support groups for battle-wound- ed amputees .

“We paid for everything out of our pocket,” said Mrs. Custer. “We didn’t really know at the time how else to get started.”

What the couple started was a simple service: taking wounded patients out on the water for a ride, a picnic on a Tampa Bay island or a little fishing. It soon became apparent that what they were doing had far greater value than anyone anticipated.

“The therapists at the hospital were telling us they could see a difference in the attitudes and outlooks of the patients,” said Mrs. Custer. “Be- ing out on the water was having a positive affect on their therapy.”

Over time, the impact of what the Custer’s were doing became apparent. One therapist com- mented that the water excursions would become his “every other Saturday therapy session.”
Bryan Custer sums up the effectiveness of what they do in just a few words.

“We can’t replace their limbs, and we can’t take away their nightmares, but we can give them a good memory.”

No one understood the value of that simple concept more than Air Force Major Gen. (Ret.) George (Nordy) Norwood, who is retired with his wife to Riverview. A boater who shares a marina with Bryan Custer, he joined Freedom Excursions, offered his time and boat, and later became a member of its board of directors.

“It’s a very worthwhile effort to take care of our wounded,” General Nor- wood said. He’s run his own sailboat and pontoon boat on outings, and cur- rently works to help the organization become more effective and to raise money.

Eventually, the plan is to expand into new areas of the country, said Mr. Custer. It will take time and money, but already there are signs many groups and organizations may be willing to help organized fundraising events.

“We’re encouraged,” he said. “People see the value and importance of something like this.”

Still, the organization is young, and there is a long way to go. Boats, volunteer captains, donations and about anything else that may help is needed, said Mrs. Custer, who works with the Airman and Family Readiness Center at MacDill to connect with those servicemembers who might benefit from the excursions. That includes stressed military moms and dads who might need a break, she said.

“We are open to anyone who might need a break,” said Mrs. Custer, add- ing that includes families that are working hard to deal with the stress of deployment and other hardships that go along with military life.

In an effort to help get out the word and explain what the organization is about, a Web site, www.freedomexcursions.org, was created. It has all the information anyone needs to learn about the goals of the fledgling group.

Mrs. Custer admits it’s been a lot of work for she and her husband, but the rewards are great. She recalls a trip with a couple of Marines who had severe balance issues, taken to the white, sandy beach of a Bay island for a few hours.

“To see them walk on the beach, bend over and pick up shells, showed them they could do it – gave them confidence that they could do everyday, normal things,” she said. “If there is any little part we can play (in making their lives better), that’s what we want to do.”

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