|
Come Experience The Natural World Of Padre Island
National Seashore With Captain Billy Sandifer!
ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY
During 2007s "event of record" 440 people picked up 95,560 pounds of
trash and cleaned 13 miles of beach on PINS. During Saturday’s 2008 event
400 people picked up 115,500 pounds in bags and including large items
brought in the total is estimated at 65 to 70 tons.
 They cleaned 13.7 miles of beach. Less people yet record distance cleaned and record amount
of trash removed. We surpassed the 1 Million pound mark by 30,000 pounds. Although the morning temperature was a brisk 42 degrees some volunteers
traveled in open vehicles from town into the work area and I observed
volunteers in wheel chairs picking up trash in two separate sections.
Although Capt. Ron Behnke of "Salt Water Angler" is recovering from
serious back surgery he and Julie were there with other family members and
pulling a trailer and also gave the event high quality advertisement. A
well earned thank you to the Behnke family and their publication.
 David Sikes of the Corpus Christi Caller Times went out of his way to give the
event as much exceptional press as possible and so did the publication,
Texas Saltwater Fishing Magazine, the local Corpus Christi CCA Chapter and
Time Warner Cable Media Sales.
Ainsworth Trucking Company continued to be
not only a major financial supporter of the event but furnished 2 trucks
and large trailers loaded down with ice chests of iced down bottled water for volunteers in the field and hauled huge loads of trash out. Mr. Henry
Perry, Ainsworth Trucking Company, is invaluable in the field due his
experience and good common sense and is a genuine blessing to this event.
 The Ruth Parr Sparks Foundation was a major benefactor and the event is
indebted to them and extremely grateful for their support. So is Mr. Jim
Mayo of Mayo Ranches andalthough he prefers not to be mentioned I find it
impossible not to do so. C.C. CCA President, Troy Adler, and Brush Country
C.C.A. were in the "trenches" walking the walk" rather than talking the
talk..
Michael Laskowski of Trac-Work Inc. Purchased 500 pair of work
gloves for the event and then pulled a large trailer in the work area
gathering trash. TAMUK ANGLERS and Sunny Beaches Org. Furnished solid
number of volunteers.
 Daniel Dann and store manager, Stephanie Benham, of
Domino’s Pizza delivered pizzas for volunteers at the conclusion of the event and CCA Corpus Christi’s Jay Gardner whipped up a goodly supply of
his famous cheese-chili dogs as well.
Co-Organizer, Tyler Thorsen, of www.corpusfishing.com and board member of CCA Corpus Christi, was as
invaluable as always and so was long time friend, Ace Leal, the t-shirt
man and another co-organizer. Mr. Joe Escoto, the new superintendent of
PINS, and Cynthia Rubio of the Turtle Recovery Program spend the day
likewise "walking the walk" in the work area and off duty Park Ranger Pat
Donahue patrolled the area with a full first aid kit should problems
have occurred.
 Smartshield Sun Protection, H.E.B., TEXMAPS.com, "Fishbites" and
Carsonmap.com continued their wonderful support . Gambler’s Specialities
Ink of Corpus Christi did an awesome job on the t-shirts in short order
and my dear friends, Dr. David McKee, Ph.D. at Texas A&M University-Corpus
Christi and businessman, Steve Naylor, of Round Rock continued their
dedication to this worthwhile endeavor.
Mr. Brian Hawkins of the "Texas
Country Reporter" T.V. show filmed the entire event and a show on it will
air in May. Gas is over $3.00 a gallon, personal commitments overwhelm us
all in our everyday lives and it was a cold morning to get up on your day
off and drive some distance at your own financial expense to do hard
physical labor all day. The title of this comes from my ol’ military days, "Above and Beyond the Call of Duty." 
Throughout the event it kept running through my mind for I realized that was exactly what was happening right
before my very eyes and I am overwhelmed with admiration for all of you.
If "what goes around really comes around" you’ve all bought some
exceptionally good karma on this deal. Your are my heroes.
Your Friend and
Admirer,
Captain Billy L. Sandifer
|
