Cross the Line Paddle for Veterans 2023 Recap 

On June 17, 2023, the Cross the Line Foundation held our 5th annual Paddle for Veterans.  A total of 92 paddlers braved the early morning rain which soon turned into scorching heat while paddling 9 miles to cross the line from St. Mary s, Georgia  to Fernandina Beach, Florida.  This year’s paddle raising awareness to Veteran Suicide and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder helped the Cross the Line Foundation raise over $7,000.00. All money raised went to the American River Strokers organization out of Nashville Tennessee and the Cross the Line Scholarship Endowment. This year’s event was also highlighted by some record setting paddle times and by a special guest, Terry Sharpe, the Walking Marine who has walked over 8,000 miles to raise awareness to Veteran Suicide prevention. The first paddler to cross was John Plunkett with an estimated time of one hour and forty minutes.

Many thanks to the Cities of St. Marys and Fernandina Beach as well as all of our wonderful Volunteers and partners in the community the Amelia River Cruise Company, Nassau Moving Company, Oasis Marina,  Savage Beaks, The Green Turtle, P-5 Productions, Eight Flags Insurance Co, Mac Graphics, and  PJDs Beer and Wine Garden. We could not do this event without you. Our Cross the Line Team is already looking forward to next year’s paddle event. Hope to see you all there.