Project Healing Waters

Photo Gallery 10/08

 

 

 

 

 

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active duty military personnel and veterans through fly fishing and fly tying education and outings. This not-for-profit organization is an official partner program of the Federation of Fly Fishers and Trout Unlimited.  Rim Shoals Resort is privileged to be hosting a group from PHWFF this week. Visit www.projecthealingwaters.org to make a monetary donation or just to learn more about the service they provide.
 

Well, it's really hard to get a group picture where everybody is looking at the camera, but I think we did pretty good here. Thursday was the last night for the soldiers at Rim Shoals. This shot shows many of the people involved in the trip, though just as many did not make the picture.

Back Row: Caught fluffing her hair is army wife (and Wendy's daughter) Cody Ely. Behind her, Paul Craig. Then, left to right, Dave Maxfield (Ft. Leonard Wood), Guides Kevin Brandtonies and Denis Dunderdale, Gary Flippin, Kevin Price (Ft. Carson), Rick Trowbridge-orange cap (Ft. Leonard Wood), Guide John Berry, Songwriter Sam Tate, Betty Pahl, and Bob Krause. Center of group: David Specking (Paragould), Guide Assist, Teresa VanWinkle, Michael DeBose (CA), Paula Flippin. Sitting is Leonel Madrigal (Ft. Carson), Travis Dulaney (Memphis), Guide Davy Wotton, Front Row: Wendy Luna, and Ken Morrow (Ft Bliss).

A short nod to the many people/community clubs who helped support the PHWFF trip.

Cash Donations Received for Project Healing Waters White River Trip $1870: Contributors include Tom Seay, Yamato Steel Co, Blythville, AR, Paul Craig/Carolyn Hellmuth,  Bill & Sara Thorne at G.I. Supply, Advanced Auto Body, VFW Ozark Post 3246 (cash donation plus lunch at Norfork River), White River Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Twin Lakes Chapter #30 Disabled Veterans, American Legion, Alley-White Post, North Central Arkansas Veterans Council, Knights of Columbus 4° (cash donation and lasagna dinner). Meals Donated by clubs/businesses  trimmed $1250 from meal budget: Cotter Chamber of Commerce, Knights of Columbus, Angler’s Café, VFW, North Arkansas Fly Fishers, Subway, Brent’s Ribs/White River Trout Lodge. Community volunteers Larry Barker / VFW-Police Escort, Shella & Tom Hagan – gift bags with items collected from area businesses, Bob & Sheila Jones – candy baskets for cabins, Bob Krause, Joe Salisbury – press boats, Michael Douglas ADA van, George Pastove, Larry Voss (Knights of Columbus), TL Laurman / Wapsi Fly, tying kits / lesson, Mike Crawford, Yamato Steel – mugs, etc giveaways, Joy Lowe, Julia Pitts, Katy Nixon – desserts, Danielle Wilkinson , Monday’s casting instruction, Betty Pahl – 3 nights dinner volunteer
 

Lots of Fishing

  
I cannot tell you just how much this Rim Shoals event has done for me.  Both personally and as a volunteer seeing other Soldier's lives changed!  I'm sure everyone has heard or witnessed the change in Travis in just the short three days that we were there and fishing.  If nothing else came from that trip, it was worth it just to see his eyes light up, his head lifted up and tears of joy and thankfulness coming from his eyes in response to the love that he was shown on this trip.  I've never, in my whole life, been around a group of people that had so much love and caring for someone they had never met!  All of us Soldiers that were there, came from different places in the States and completely different backgrounds, yet, as we joined together for a week of fishing, I had not felt such a warm brotherhood as I did from these six other guys.  None of this would have been possible if it had not been for the generosity and love shown to us by the volunteers and supporters of this event! 
 
Through my time in the military, I've been able to live in several different states.  I had never spent a great amount of time in Arkansas, but now realize that this is my favorite place to be, based solely on those that I met on this trip to Rim Shoals.  It is now my desire to relocate to that area and run the Southern Region of Project Healing Waters from there.  If the rest of the area is as warm and inviting as those encountered, then life would be a dream living amongst such loving neighbors.
 
Thank you all for hosting such a wonderful event and I'm very much looking forward to making this an annual event for PHWFF. 
 
Very Respectfully and with much gratitude, Rick Trowbridge

 

Dave Specking  hooks into a trout, Davy retrieves it with a net.
 


Dave Maxfield pulls the line tight.

Kevin stands mid-stream

Davy Wotton and Michael show off a nice trout.

Kevin Brandtonies nets a fish for Dave while Rick looks on.


 

Above: Big rainbow reeled in by Dave Maxfield. At right: Kevin and Michael contemplate their morning of fishing.

   
Daily Diversions  

T.L. and Travis Dulaney get to tyin'

 On Tuesday evening, TL Lauerman, of WAPSI Fly joined the soldiers in the bunkhouse for a little fly tying session. The company donated tying kits and vises to each soldier.

This night, they learned to tie a wooly bugger.

Soldiers meet Ken Broyles and prepare to tour the Norfork Fish Hatchery.

Tom Shumacker, owner of Wapsi Fly visits with soldiers before they take a tour of his factory.
 

Davy Wotton presented all the soldiers with a copy of his dvd, "White River with Davy Wotton."

Fishing big water and fluctuating flows are characteristics of the White and North Fork Rivers. In this production Davy helps you understand how to meet the challenges of high water. Shoals are key to fishing on these rivers. All of the most important ones are explored in detail. In addition, Davy shows the most significant access points for both wade and boat angling. You can learn more at Davy's website, www.davywotton.com

 

 
   
   

VFW supplies burgers and brats to the troops.
Publicity a Must  

Michael talks to Armando Rios, a reporter from Baxter Bulletin.

Dave listens attentively as a reporter shoots questions.

Rick (center) the new Southern Regional Coordinator for Project Healing Waters is interviewed by Memphis station KY3

Ken,  recently became the Lone Star Coordinator for PHWFF, visits with reporters from The Commercial Appeal.
You won't go hungry. The only complaint received from a soldier: "I haven't eaten this much in years."
 

Appreciating Soldiers Always. At right, Carl Hathaway, one of our regular visitors at Rim Shoals was in residence when the soldiers arrived Monday night. Carl served in WWII as First Pilot of a B-17 Bomber. At 21 years of age he ran 33 successful mission of Germany. Carl is 85 years old.

 

Rim Shoals Resort

153 Rim Shoals Camp, Mountain Home, AR 72653

870-435-6144       Fax: 870-435-5698        Email: info@rimshoals.com