Boy who makes keychains for veterans meets Governor in recent trip to Capitol


Photo submitted Isabella resident Skyler Clark visited the Missouri Capitol March 1 and met Missouri Governor Mike Parson. During the visit, Skyler was able to tell Parson about a project he started a few years ago making and distributing handmade fishing lure keychains and necklaces to veterans.

Ten-year-old Isabella resident Skyler Clark, along with his parents and a few family friends, visited the Missouri Capitol last week as a guest of 155th District House Representative Travis Smith. 

Smith introduced the young boy on the House floor, and Clark visited the capitol’s “whispering gallery” and dome.

Then he was introduced to Missouri Governor Mike Parson, who said he was impressed with the boy’s patriotism that he’s shown through his volunteering for area veterans.

Skyler started a project in November 2019 that combined his two passions, fishing and honoring veterans. To show his appreciation to the men and women who have sacrificed and served in America’s armed forces, Skyler makes and distributes keychains and necklaces to veterans featuring a fishing hook.

Due to all of Skyler’s volunteer work with the community and military veterans, he was presented with three challenge coins during his visit.

“Keep up all the hard work Skyler. Your elected officials are very proud of you, and we hope you enjoyed your visit at the Capitol as our special guest!” said a spokesperson from Smith’s office. 

To date, Skyler has given out more than 6,500 handmade mementos to area veterans in the little over two years since be started the project. This year alone, Skyler has handed out and met more than 1,500 veterans. He’s set a goal to reach 5,000 new veterans in 2022. 

Skyler’s dad Roger Clark says the idea for the project was completely Skyler’s. 

 “He woke up in the middle of the night one night in November [2019] and told us he wanted to do something for the veterans,” Roger told the Times. “That’s when the idea was born.”

The next day, Skyler worked with his dad and mom Ashlee to search online for ideas to honor U.S. veterans in some special way. After scrolling through dozens of different ideas, Skyler came across a fishing lure charm and told his parents right away that he wanted to use it.

Skyler says the fishing hook represents one of his favorite things to do, and by giving it to veterans, he’s letting them have a little piece of his heart. 

In his free time Skyler works diligently on making the keychains and necklaces and distributing them.

He keeps a book bag full of the keychains and necklaces with him so he won’t miss an opportunity to approach and thank a veteran, no matter where he is. He has approached veterans at gas stations, walking down sidewalks, in the grocery store and just about everywhere else. 

“When we go to Walmart, you can’t put a time limit on it,” Roger said. “You can go in for milk, and we’ll end up being in there a couple of hours. But we promised him we’d never stop him from doing it.”

When asked how he identifies which people in stores are veterans, Skyler says it isn’t that hard.

“Sometimes they have a hat or shirt on, but a lot of times I just know,” Skyler said.

His parents said he has come to be able to read people by the way they stand, walk or how disciplined they appear. 

“And somehow, he just knows,” Roger said. “Really, most of the time, he just knows by looking at them. He’ll tell us he thinks they’re a vet. Then he’ll go up and ask, ‘Are you a veteran?’ and they’ll nod yes.”

That icebreaker usually leads to a passionate and heartfelt discussion about Skyler’s appreciation for their service. Then he asks if they’d like to have a keychain or a necklace. He always ends the discussion by asking, ‘Do you like to go fishing?’ If they say yes, he asks if he can take them fishing.

In addition to chance encounters during the family’s daily routine, Skyler also seeks out veterans at various local and regional events where he knows he’ll be able to approach large numbers of veterans. 

For more information or keep up with the project, visit “Skylers Fishing Adventures” on Facebook. 

Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

Phone: (417) 679-4641
Fax: (417) 679-3423