Joseph Buccini was trying for methods to lift cash for the nonprofit, Hookin’ Veterans, when it occurred to him that placing on a comedy show could be a good conduit for supporting what the group is about.
“I wanted to do something different,” mentioned Buccini, who’s affectionately generally known as Booch. “My buddy put on a comedy show, so we put one on last year. We all need a laugh in our life.”
The second annual Hook, Line & Sinker Comedy Night will be held Friday and Saturday, Oct. 25-26, at Club 51 at 51 N. Old Kings Rd. in Palm Coast.
Buccini, a resident of Palm Coast, is considered one of three founders of Hookin’ Veterans, which offers deep-sea fishing retreats off West Palm Beach and Maine for disabled veterans. They have supplied four-day fishing excursions for 50 veterans since 2015. The journeys embody a studying session on how you can fish, a remedy session and a likelihood to construct new friendships with different veterans. Disabled veterans from everywhere in the nation apply to go on the journeys. Several native veterans have participated.
“Doesn’t matter if you lost two legs, we’ll get you on the boat,” Buccini mentioned.
The journeys are fairly costly. Captains donate their boats, crew and fuel. Hookin Veterans cowl the rest of the prices.
Sean Santore, the dealer/proprietor of Launch Realty in Palm Coast, is a volunteer for the group. He mentioned one four-day journey for 15 veterans prices the group over $25,000.
“Airfare, hotel, it’s all inclusive, dedicated to make sure these veterans get treated like they should be treated for all their service,” Santore mentioned.
Buccini served in the Army for practically 17 years from 2001 to 2017 which included two excursions in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was a door gunner on a CH-47 Chinook helicopter. He is a disabled veteran himself with three herniated discs, two dangerous shoulders, a dangerous knee and PTSD.
“Not all wounds are visible,” he says.
PEACE AND TRANQUILITY
The different founders of Hookin’ Veterans are Tyler Jeffries, who lives in North Carolina and Colby Briggs, who lives in the West Palm Beach space.
The nonprofit Jeffries’ brainchild, Buccini mentioned. Jeffries is a double amputee who was wounded in Afghanistan in 2012 when a command-wired improvised explosive system detonated.
Buccini and Jeffries met at a Salute to the Troops occasion in 2015. It turned out they’d met earlier than.
“I showed him a picture of me in the helicopter and he said, ‘You flew me in.’” Buccini mentioned. “I had flown him into Afghanistan and a few months later, he was blown up.”
They turned quick associates. On a helicopter hog looking journey collectively, Jeffries requested Buccini if he may prepare a deep-sea fishing journey for them, so he did.
“We were having a good time fishing,” Buccini mentioned, “And Tyler said, ‘Dude I really want to do this for other veterans.’’
When Jeffries was at Walter Reed National Medical Center where he underwent his surgeries, he went out on the water and told Buccini that he found “so much peace and tranquility.”
That’s how the group started.
We let veterans expertise this tranquility and respite. … We allow them to know we recognize what they did for us and the sacrifices they made. The journeys are a as soon as in a lifetime expertise.
— JOSEPH “BOOCH” BUCCINI
“We let veterans experience this tranquility and respite,” Buccini mentioned. “And the talk therapy is huge. They’re able to talk about their experiences in the military and maybe build common ground with another veteran. We provide that vent. Otherwise they keep it inside and it destroys them. We let them know we appreciate what they did for us and the sacrifices they made. The trips are a once in a lifetime experience.”
CASH CAB HOST TO HEADLINE SHOWS
Ben Bailey, who drove the “Cash Cab,” for over 550 episodes, will be the headliner for the Hook, Line and Sinker Comedy Nights. Cash Cab was a TV sport show that happened inside a New City cab with Bailey serving as each sport show host and cab driver.
Veterans on a fishing journey exhibiting off a catch. Courtesy picture
Buccini requested a good friend about reserving Bailey as a result of he learn someplace that Bailey owns a home in St. Augustine. It took a month to e book Bailey as a result of he was listed as a sport show host though he’s on tour as a slapstick comedian. Buccini mentioned he doesn’t know if Bailey has a home in St. Augustine, however he intends to ask him that when he picks him up on the airport.
The different comics in the show are PT Bratton and Dewayne White. They are each skilled comedians and disabled veterans. Bratton is a 100% clear comic, Buccini mentioned, including that he would in all probability give the show an total TV-14 ranking.
Tickets for every evening are $45. (Order on-line at http://bit.ly/3Bp4HyX). Included are an appetizer buffet catered by Chef Bills Legacy Catering, desserts by Sweet Melissa’s Homemade Ice Cream, a silent acution and a commemorative picture. The occasion will not solely profit Hookin’ Veterans, however Buccini mentioned he will additionally donate $1,000 to the Disabled American Veterans Palm Coast chapter.
“If you’re going to support veterans, support veterans,” Buccini mentioned. “I just wanted to give back to veterans.”
Everyone concerned in Hookin Veterans is a volunteer. All of the cash raised goes towards the fishing journeys.
Santore, whose father is a disabled Vietnam veteran, was hooked after he received know Buccini.
“Joe and I have been friends since our kids went to school together 15 years ago,” Santore mentioned. “He knows I love to fish. He started to talk to me about it. I said how do I get involved. Now I do some social media for them. I’m a go-fer. If I’m not doing my job, which is real estate, I’m doing something for Hookin Veterans.
“Veterans that go to these (fishing) events pull me aside,” Santore mentioned. “They say, ‘This is the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me in my whole life.’ That quote makes me want to cry. We are actually doing something to make a difference in these guys’ lives.”
