Charlie 22 Outdoors founder hopes to help veterans

Charlie 22 Outdoors, an organization for veterans to enjoy outdoor experiences, is planning its ninth trip to Roaring River State Park this year, and the company’s founder is being honored with the opportunity to fire the gun to start the season.

Scott Hettinger, founder of Charlie 22 Outdoors, said he was asked to shoot the shot at 6 a.m. on March 1 by phone just over a month ago.

“It was a humbling gesture they were offering,” he said. “How do I even accept something like that over the phone? I didn’t know what to say. It’s a pretty big deal. I’m honored and privileged to be able to do this.”

Firing the gun will be a moment to remember, but Hettinger is also excited to soak in the Opening Day festivities.

“I have never been to Opening Day,” he said. “It’s cool to think this will be my first time experiencing it, and I’m looking forward to talking to people. One of our guys has not missed an Opening Day since 1977 and wanted me to fish with him. I had planned to just observe, but I think I will bring my gear down and fish some too.”

Charlie 22 was founded on the basis that 22 veterans commit suicide every day, and the area non-profit aims to lower that number by providing outdoor activities to veterans with the goal of showing veterans there is hope, love and a personal meaning in God’s grace.

Hettinger, an army brat as a child, was paralyzed in a car accident in college. After a medical challenge in 2017, he decided he should be doing more for area veterans.

“Charlie 22 will have its ninth event at Roaring River this year, and we’ve developed a great relationship with the park,” he said. “They like what we are about — serving veterans and their families.”

Hettinger said the opportunity to fire the gun only strengthens that bond, and he hopes veterans take note of the extra mile Charlie 22 has gone this year.

“With what I’m about to do, it’s a great way to build on that relationship and to also show people what we do,” he said. “We’ve done two Roaring River trips a year since 2019, and we will do a larger one this October, hopefully with about 100 people.”

Previous Charlie 22 Outdoors events have suffered somefromCOVID-19 regulations, but Hettinger said the total attendance still hovers around 100.

“We had about 110 the first year, but COVID regulations limited the number of people that could stay. We’ve been at about 25-50 staying in the last events, but about another 50 come and fish, then go home. It would be great on Opening Day to educate people on who we are and what we are about.”

To help with visibility, Charlie 22 Outdoors has purchased 25 trout tags and is preparing lunch for veterans who had registered for the tag and meal.

“We’ll be passing out the tags and will have lunch at the CCC Lodge from noon to 1 p.m.,” he said. “We’re also bringing a display booth so people can get some literature and info about us.”

Capitalizing on the opportunity to help spread happiness to some veterans, Hettinger said one of the most impactful parts of the day for him will be who is on the banks at 6:30 a.m.

“It’s humbling — what a privilege and an honor to know veterans will be all over the place down there,” he said. “It’s a good opportunity to meet and talk to as many of them as I can.”

For more information on Charlie 22 Outdoors, people may visit www. charlie22outdoors.com, or find the organization on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.