Members of the Cashton VFW have come up with a unique way to honor some of their most recent comrades in arms. The organization is hooking up with the St. Mary's Ridge Archers and extending an invitation to veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts to participate in the 2010 St. Mary's Ridge 3-D Archery Shoot.

"It's a way to honor and show respect for the veterans who served in the most recent conflicts." said Melvin Schmitz, a member of the Cashton VFW, which will sponsor 30 veterans at next year's shoot.

The annual shoot, which this year was held July 18, has been growing in popularity since it inaugural event six years ago. "Nobody else has a shoot like this in the state of Wisconsin," said Jerry klinkner, a member of the St. Mary's Ridge Archers, which organizes the event.

"We make it kind of a festival," added Thad Brueggen, another archery club member.

Besides the opportunity to shoot at life-size animal targets, participants are treated to a pig roast with all the trimmings. The two-mile course, complete with 28 target stations, is on 40 acres of hilly terrain belonging to Schmitz. It is located behind St. Mary's Catholic Church between Cashton and Norwalk.

"The first year we had 115 shooters," said Klinkner speaking at this year's event. "Last year there were 274 and we'll crush that this year."

The shoot draws people from all over Wisconsin, as well as Minnesota, Iowa and Michigan,. participants compete in five categories: open challenge (for the pros), bow hunters' class, women's class, youth class (13-16), and cub class for under 13. There are cash prizes for top finishers in the first four classes. Proceeds from the shot, which requires a $20 entry fee, go toward St. Mary's Church and other charities.

All entrants are eligible for prizes, an opportunity which will extend to the veterans in next year's event. "The vets will be entitled to a one-in 100 chance of winning a bow or $500," said a VFW member who only wished to be identified as the Old Korean Vet. While he was instrumental in bringing the bow shoot and veterans' organizations together he preferred to remain anonymous and let the focus remain on the veterans.

"I'm doing it out of my heart," he said. "We've all been through Hell and back.

The Cashton VFW has already received over $200 toward sponsoring veterans for next year's bow shoot.