Project Healing Waters

We are not Heroes but have Fished a Few

My childhood was a blur but I remember a couple things we did in school that they don’t do anymore. We made sure the flag didn’t touch the ground as we unfolded it, while we said the pledge of allegiance as it raised up the pole. We had respect for all adults. The back windows of our trucks had a rifle or shotgun, and if you messed up in school you found your butt being warmed by a paddle and then you went back to class.

I started working full time before graduating so going into the service wasn’t something that I thought about but remember some of my friends and my brother going into the service right out of high school. If I could turn back time I would have been more supportive to my brother and when he was sent off to spend eight years of his life away from home. As a kid back then and like most people that I see on the news now days, we don’t really understand what real freedom means.

I understood what freedom means the day I had the privilege to spend it with a disabled vet. He had legs so deformed that everything he did through out the day was interrupted by the pain from his legs. He never complained but every once in awhile his facial expressions would give away his pain. It was hard to believe this man has lived with this for fifty years. I’m glad I let him know how thankful I was.

Fishing Our Veterans

I fished a lot of vets under the wounded warriors and other Vet programs and have enjoyed them all. But around 2009 Damond told me about the Project Healing Waters program that he helped with in the winter months. He helped teach vets on the base fly tying and fly rod building.

Damond suggested that we start taking 3 or 4 boats fly fishing for trout in September. Since that September I was hooked! Now every September we will have guides and boats ready to help make some great fishing memories for the Healing Waters Vets. The fun and memories that we make together is something I will keep going as long as my business is going! I don’t know if this is still for the Vets or for me.  To all the vets I have fished thank you. Tyland

A Little Bit About Project Healing Waters

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military service personnel and disabled veterans through fly fishing and associated activities including education and outings. There is Never a charge to Vets.

Here Are A Few Ways To Help Keep Healing Waters Going

• Sponsor a Trip
• Donate Fishing Equipment
• Offer Meals
• Lodging
• Donate Your Guide Service
• Host a Fundraiser
• Teach Fly Casting
• Fly Tying
• Rod Building
• Donate To Help Pay For These Activities.

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