Nation: Championship sponsor dinner

The Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Championship sponsor dinner was held in conjunction with the Folds of Honor presentation as Nation anglers fellowship and prepare for the upcoming Nation Championship while collecting swag from all the Nation’s great sponsors.

B.A.S.S. Nation Director Jon Stewart greeted anglers one by one as they made their way through.

Rigid Industries staff handout information on their lighting.

Tyler Wade poses with her fancy new Spain B.A.S.S. Nation jersey.

B.A.S.S. C.E.O. Bruce Akin chats with Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation representative Coby Carden.

Anglers meet with representatives from Folds of Honor.

Folds of Honor is a great organization that speaks up for the families of our fallen heroes.

Old Milwaukee hands out beer and gear to the participants.

Cool hats.

Toyota is on hand to pass out some goodies.

Old Milwaukee has the tables set and there’s even a little light reading available.

Folds of Honor reminds us that freedom isn’t free.

Anglers and B.A.S.S. Nation representatives make their way through the sponsors.

Mercury is giving out hats.

Triton too.

Lowrance has buffs available.

Pick up a pack of Money Makers from the Berkley table.

Don’t forget your Iron Silk.

Berkley filling up the goody bags.

Carhartt is here with lots of gear.

Toyota on hand at the B.A.S.S. Nation Sponsor Dinner.

The line is having to loop around twice.

Info on LEER Truck Caps available.

Carhartt Bassmaster College Series’ 2015 Bassmaster Classic representative Brett Preuett is on hand to pass out the Carhartt gear.

Everyone needs a B.A.S.S. Daily Planner.

Old Milwaukee still giving away the goods.

Don Barone has the guys at the Shimano table going pretty good.

Don Barone is handing out free autographs along with a money back guarantee.

More product from Berkley, the PowerBait Fight’n Bug.

Barone catches up with Tim Johnston who represented the west in the 2014 Bassmaster Classic.

Plenty to hand out at the Shimano table.

A great partnership.

Ginger Gilbert with Folds of Honor talks with a few of the anglers prior to dinner.

A look at who will be competing this week.

Dave Mercer welcomes the anglers.

Mercer acknowledges Troy Danes of Australia who has made history as the first Australian ever to qualify for the B.A.S.S. Championship.

Mercer then puts Troy on the spot and gets him to talk dirty with an Australian accent (you had to be there).

Next up Ricardo Manuel Chapa Mira is the first representative of Portugal ever to compete in the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship.

Max Pieper is the first angler ever to represent Namibia in the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship.

Paul Mueller is recognized for his second place finish in the 2014 Bassmaster Classic.

Director of Patriot Fishing Days Diane Nemecek introduces the Folds of Honor and gives a little background on the organization.

Ginger Gilbert, the wife of fallen Air Force Major Troy L. Gilbert, puts a face to the more than 1,000,000 family members who have either lost a loved one to war or had to find a way to cope with a loved one’s injury sustained in war. Awarding scholarships to family members of fallen heroes is one way that Folds of Honor helps those in need.

A short video plays introducing us all to Air Force Major Troy L. Gilbert.

Greyson Gilbert, son of Ginger and Major Troy Gilbert, speaks to the anglers and expresses his appreciation for helping remember his dad, an avid angler and outdoorsman.

A standing ovation after a powerful speech delivered by a 14 year old young man that would have brought many a grown man to his knees.

Don Barone snaps a photo for what’s sure to be a gripping piece on this family and what they represent.

Time for dinner.

Plenty for all in attendance.