Texas A&M Veterinary Emergency Team Providing Support for Warrior’s Weekend Event
COLLEGE STATION, TX – Team members from the Texas A&M; Veterinary Emergency Team (VET) deployed to Port O’Connor, TX today to provide support for the 10th Annual Warrior’s Weekend. The event is a fundraising fishing tournament that supports veterans who were wounded in service to their country. Each year, soldiers injured in combat arrive in Port O’Connor from Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio and join other wounded soldiers who arrived earlier from military installations from all across the country.
Many of the soldiers participating are accompanied by service dogs. At this year’s event, it is anticipated there will be approximately 50 dogs attending with their owners. The VET was asked to provide veterinary support to these special canines, as the closest small animal veterinarians are 45 minutes away.
“The dogs that come with these soldiers are special,” said Dr. Deb Zoran, medical operations chief for the VET. “They are therapy dogs, service dogs, and retired military working dogs. In their own way, they continue to serve our nation by assisting these brave men and women who sacrificed so much for our country.”
The participants begin the day with a welcome rally and then are treated to a day of coastal fishing with a weigh-in of the day’s catch. The tournament concludes with a dinner, including music and presentations by military dignitaries in celebration of these soldiers and their service.
“This is a large event supporting our troops,” said Dr. Wesley Bissett, director of the VET. “Our team’s motto is to serve our state and nation every day, and it is truly an honor to be asked to participate in this event in support of these soldiers and the dogs who continue serving by their soldier’s side.”
The Texas A&M; Veterinary Emergency Team formed in 2010. The motto of the team is “Serving our state and nation every day.” This is accomplished by deploying the largest and most sophisticated veterinary medical disaster response team in the country; developing and providing cutting-edge emergency management education; developing new knowledge in emergency preparedness education and response; and building on the legacy of service that is at the heart of Texas A&M; University. For more information on the Texas A&M; VET, visit their website at vetmed.tamu.edu/vet.
Founded in 2007, Warrior’s Weekend is a non-profit, 501(c) 3 corporation dedicated to the support of veterans of The United States of America with an emphasis on those wounded in The Global War on Terrorism. This is accomplished through holding an annual fishing event for wounded military personnel in May in Port O’Connor, TX as well as donations to veterans and veterans-based causes.
