Support Our Troops Marches On

Two days ago at the Lake of the Ozarks, some 50 to 60 powerboats took to the water for the 16th annual Support Our Troops Poker Run. The Big Thunder Marine-backed event is a total community effort that provides a day on the Central Missouri waterway for active and retired members of the United States military. It also raises money for the locally based nonprofit H.E.R.O.E.S. Care veteran services organization.

Enthusiasm ran high during the 16th annual event celebrating active and retired military personnel. Photos by Jeff Helmkamp copyright Helmkamp Photos

This time around, U.S. Air Force veterans Mike and Angela Goldbaugh participated in the event for the first time—but not as riders. The Support Our Troops Poker Run has long been on the to-do list for the Alabama-based couple and they had hoped to provide a fellow veteran or two with a ride in their Skater Powerboats 388 catamaran called LATE FEE$ X3.

But all of the veterans participating already had rides, so they just enjoyed the event itself.

U.S. Air Force veterans Mike and Angela Goldbaugh hauled their eye-popping 38-foot catamaran from Alabama for the run.

“We still had fun and the turnout was great,” said Mike Goldbaugh. “I have always wanted to do this event.”

The couple could be poster-veterans/ambassadors for the remarkable event. They actually met during their Air Force service—he served 22 years and his bride served for 10 years. Both earned master’s degree during their military careers.

Now owned by T.J. Becker, the famed 46-foot Freedom Skater catamaran was in the Support Our Troops Poker Run mix.

“We were both enlisted when we met in Alaska and got our commissions there,” Goldbaugh explained. “We got married in Seward. I retired as a Major and Angela got out after 10 years as a Captain.”

Though last Friday’s event was anything but a first for locals Mark and Tiffany Maasen of Poly-Lift Boat Lifts, which has supported the event since its inception, their dedication to the daylong happening hasn’t dulled in the least. Mark Maasen still looks forward to it every year.

This time around the event raised $22,685 for H.E.R.O.E.S. Care.

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Enjoy more images from the Friday happening.

“I did not serve, but my Grandfather served in the Navy in World War II,” Mark Maasen said. “My wife’s father was in the Marines and her son is currently in the Air Force,” he said. “We’ve always had the upmost respect for our military.

“Ed Champion was with Midwest Boat Party, and they started it,” he added. “We have just been a sponsor from the beginning.”

Said Poly-Lift’s Maasen (center), “We’ve always had the upmost respect for our military.”

A veteran marine industry salesman who specializes in the high-performance powerboat segment for Big Thunder Marine, Champion always looks forward to the annual event. He was quick to credit the Big Thunder team as this month was particularly busy for the multi-location dealership

“I think the thing that stands out the most to me is our staff,” he said. “We are coming off an event every weekend—diaper drives, boat closings, holidays and a Cigarette extravaganza—and they still all showed up on a Friday in 90-degree temperatures to help tie up boats and make it run smoothly.

(From left) Big Thunder Marine salesman Ed Champion, Poly-Lift’s Mark Maasen, Jon Jerome of H.E.R.O.E.S. Care and Big Thunder Marine general manager Jeremy Anderson were proud to be part of the event, which raised $22,685 for the veteran services organization.

“Some enjoyed the event, some went back to work,” he added. “But at the end of the day, they were back to finish it—all to make it happen for the troops.”