Delia recognized for work with veterans
Photo by Shari Harris
From left, Tom Fink, Mo. Trout Fisherman’s Association; Jacquie Delia; Dominic Delia; and Kari Hafley, Mo. Trout Fisherman’s Association, stand with a wooden flag created by Jim Jenkins. The flag was dedicated to Dominic Delia for his work in developing free trout fishing programs for veterans.
Saturday was Veteran’s Free Fishing Day at Montauk State Park. Hooked on Vets registered veterans and handed out fishing tags, and also prepared a pulled pork dinner for them. In addition, a wooden flag was dedicated to Dominic Delia for his behind-the-scenes work that made the day possible.
In addition to Delia’s 22 years of service, he continues to work to support other veterans. He has been involved with numerous groups over the past 30-years that support active military members and veterans, including the USO, VFW, Camp Hope, Healing Waters, and the Missouri Trout Fisherman’s Association St. Louis Chapter. He also gives back to his community as Board President of the Montauk Rural Fire Department.
More than a decade ago, Delia approached Wes Swee, park director for Maramec Spring Park, about doing a Veteran’s Free Fishing Day. Twelve years ago the first event was held at the park near St. James. It was such a success that the Missouri Department of Conservation extended the program to all of their trout parks throughout the state, including Saturday’s event at Montauk State Park.
Each trout park has different volunteers supporting their event and helping to honor veterans. Delia has continued to spearhead the volunteers at Maramec Springs Park since the initial event, only cancelling the Veterans Free Fishing Day one year (due to COVID).
This past year, donations received during the Maramec Springs Park Veterans Free Fishing Day went to the St. James Veterans Home, Kids Fishing Day 2027 at Maramec Springs, and Freedom 13 (a camp in Bourbon created in honor of the 13 killed at the Kabul airport when evacuating Afghanistan at the end of the Afghanistan War).
The wooden flag was donated by Jim Jenkins, who made it in honor of his father, who was a veteran.
