A Million Thanks and the Say His Name Foundation are hosting the inaugural SGT Dylan Holley Memorial Bass Tournament throughout September 2026. The month-long virtual event honors Sgt. Dylan Holley, an 82nd Airborne Division veteran who died by suicide on Sept. 17, 2023.
The nationwide competition coincides with Suicide Prevention Month and invites anglers across the country to participate from local public waters. Holley served eight years as a U.S. Marine Corps combat engineer before joining the U.S. Army at Fort Bragg, maintaining a lifelong passion for fishing throughout his service.
Organizers designed the event under the theme “Hooked on Hope” to foster connection, remembrance, and open dialogue around military and veteran suicide. Participants submit their qualifying bass catches through the FishingChaos mobile app rather than traveling to a single physical location.
The virtual format features four geographic regions with both adult and youth competition divisions. Youth anglers can join at no cost when paired with a registered adult, and top adult competitors in each region can win cash prizes alongside a separate side pot for the largest bass.
Michele Holley, Executive Director of A Million Thanks, emphasized that the tournament uses fishing as a medium to encourage people to slow down, listen, and support one another. Registration fees support the event’s mission, and participants can submit the names of lost service members to be printed on official memorial shirts.
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