Jan 2024. Blues Vol 40 No. 1

time outdoor adventure of their
choosing. Matson was selected
as the first recipient of a Legacy
Trip, and chose to hunt the King
Eider in Alaska with his uncle
and best friend. HHO and several
others planned the trip over the
course of two years – an arduous
process due to delays and obstacles
related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Finally, the traveling party
visited Alaska’s St. Paul Island
in January 2023, and everyone
on the trip found and harvested
a King Eider – including Matson
himself.
Matson and HHO recently
selected the second Legacy Trip
recipient, and HHO is currently
planning that outdoor adventure.
Going forward, all Legacy Trip
recipients will help select future
awardees; HHO hopes this will
help foster an ultimate sense of
community among servicemen
and women.
“From the depths of despair
to the heights of adventure, this
documentary perfectly captures
Arik’s unbreakable spirit,” said
Chris Tetrault, co-founder and
president of Hometown Hero
Outdoors. “The film follows
the Matson family’s years-long
journey from injury to triumph.
It was HHO’s honor and privilege
to be a part of telling this story –
Arik is an inspiration to everyone
he meets.”
The documentary was filmed
and produced by Dale Mord and
the team at Rogue Productions,
based in St. Paul, Minn.
The HHO welcomes donations
of time, money or other resources
to its general fund, its Legacy
Trip program and everything
else it does. To contribute, or for
more information, visit https://
hometownherooutdoors.org/.
About Hometown Hero Outdoors
Hometown Hero Outdoors
(HHO), based in Stillwater, Minn.,
is a 501(c)(3) organization with
two primary goals: 1) to connect
with as many first responders,
military service members and
veterans as possible, and 2) offer
them opportunities to temporarily
escape the daily stress of civilian
life through safe outdoor adventures.
HHO has facilitated activities
such as hunting in Alaska,
camping in the Pacific Northwest,
fishing off the coast of Florida
and more as a form of recreational
therapy. Through it all,
HHO helps everyday heroes: connect
with individuals who have
experienced similar situations;
begin the mental healing process
through outdoor fun and relaxation;
build a strong and positive
support system; and conquer
challenges of civilian life.
For more information, or to
support the cause, visit https://
hometownherooutdoors.org/.
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The Blues - January ‘24 69