Veteran Applause For Support Our Troops Poker Run

By the numbers alone, the 18th annual Support Our Troops Poker Run was an uncommon success. Last Friday’s Big Thunder Marine-produced happening attracted 71 boats to Central Missouri waterway. The size of the fleet almost doubled its historical average.

On their own dime, the owners of those boats provided a five-stop day on the water to 50-plus active and retired members of the United States military and their families, as well as first-responders.

The 18th annual Support Our Troops Poker Run was a record-setter in more ways that one.

To top it off, the affair brought in a recording-setting $52,000 for the nonprofit H.E.R.O.E.S. Care veteran’s services organization.

“We raised more than $26,000, but they received a grant that doubled the amount we raised that day,” said Sage Rush, Big Thunder Marine’s marketing coordinator.

Yet the most valuable aspect of Support Our Troops cannot be found on a spreadsheet or a boat-roster. It is the daylong experience on the water enjoyed by service people such as Air Force veteran Ryan Loparo

A couple of days ago, Loparo sent an email to the Big Thunder Marine team. Here’s what he had to say:

“Seven years ago, I left Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina, but I’ve remained close with two fellow service members, Kyle and Dillon. Today, I live in O’Fallon, Ill., and work at Scott Air Force Base. Kyle is in Pensacola and Dillon is in Kansas City. When I saw the opportunity to take part in your event, I shared it with them. And we all met up in the Ozarks for what turned out to be one of the best days of our lives.

“Among us, we’ve flown on just about every cargo aircraft the Air Force operates, taken rides in F-16s and witnessed live air-to-ground bombings and strafing runs. I even worked on the C-40, the aircraft used by members of Congress. Despite all those unforgettable aviation experiences, nothing compares to the excitement and joy we had aboard the Fountain 38 SCX during the poker run.

“Sharing the day with our boat captains Chad and Cordell made it even more special. They spoke very highly of Big Thunder Marine and of Fred Ross, which is why i was hoping to pass along this message to him. The professionalism, energy, and enthusiasm from your entire team turned a great event into a once-in-a-lifetime memory for us. Thank you for hosting such an incredible event and for giving us the opportunity to be a part of it. It truly meant the world to us, and it’s a day we will never forget.

And as if Loparo hasn’t given back enough already, he ended his thank-you message with an offer of service.

“If there is ever an opportunity to support or volunteer at one of your future events, I’d be honored to help in any way I can,” he wrote.