It's a Keeper! Tomah Middle School Students hold up a bluegill their lucky Veteran caught.

Tomah Middle School Students and Veterans fishing during the event.

2008 marked the eighteenth consecutive year of the La Crosse National Fish and Wildlife Office (NFWCO) co-sponsorship of and participation in the Tomah Veteran's Administration (VA) Medical Center Fishing Day.  A well-stocked, spring-fed fishing pond, stocked and maintained through a partnership of the VA staff, Genoa National Fish Hatchery, Tomah American Legion Post, and La Crosse NFWCO provided great fishing action for the veterans, many diabled and in wheelchairs.  Each vet was met by two or more Tomah Middle School escorts and helpers.  They caught beautiful rainbow trout, largemouth bass, and bluegills, then proceeded to the Legion booth for brats, hotdogs, coffee, and soda, and next to the deep fried catfish and fixin's prepared and served by Genoa NFH, La Crosse NFWCO, and a pair of awesome volunteer fish cookers from Iowa.  The smiles and sincere "thank-you" from so many of our disabled military heroes said it all that day and makes it one event this Vietnam Veteran looks forward to every year!