 On September 19, 2009, the Lance Corporal Jordan Haerter Memorial Fishing Tournament was held on the Long Wharf in Sag Harbor. Building Homes for Heroes was one of the recipients of the event. Our share of the proceeds was approximately $8,000.
On April 22, 2008, Lance Corporal Haerter of Sag Harbor was killed in action in Ramadi, Iraq. Haerter, a member of the fiercely proud and storied 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, and fellow marine, Corporal Jonathan T. Yale, a rifleman with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, were standing guard at an Entry Control Point. A large truck accelerated towards them ignoring all signals and flares warning the driver to stop. When the truck failed to stop, Haerter and Yale opened fire until the 2,000 lb. blast claimed their lives.
 Haerter and Cpl. Yale were each posthumously awarded the The Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Iraqi Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and the Navy Cross. Jordan and Yale saved the lives of hundreds.
The fishing tournament was a tremendous success, not only from a monetary standpoint, but also from the standpoint of raising awareness for Building Homes for Heroes on Long Island. More than 100 fishermen took part in the tournament, and between 80 and 100 local merchants put up items for the silent auction and raffle. Dozens of volunteers, with special thanks to Chad Gottlieb, worked tirelessly to make this a memorable event.
Doug Herrmann, an avid supporter of Building Homes for Heroes, and his wife Barbara, organized the event along with Rich Flood and Mary Ann Steffens. The organizers expect the tournament to be an annual event.
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