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9:14 a.m. October 7, 2014
Disabled veterans fish Florida Keys
By Marilyn Rogan
Veteran Jeff Herrmann, a member of the Murfreesboro PHWFF program, shows off his catch.
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After great anticipation, the bus arrives and 43 veterans and volunteers step aboard—among them, three veterans from East Tennessee: Mark Johnson, Dan Moneymaker and Chad Rogers.
It is happening finally, a long-awaited fishing trip to the Florida Keys. No one really knows what to expect.
But wait! I am getting ahead of myself. Let me back up a moment and give you a few details about this fantastic fishing trip that will warm your heart.
The host of the trip is Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PHWFF), which was founded in 2005 as a nonprofit organization offering physical and emotional rehabilitation to injured active-duty military personnel and disabled veterans through the therapeutic benefits of fly fishing.
PHWFF introduces veterans to fly fishing, fly tying and related activities that include overnight and two- to four-day fishing outings. In Tennessee, a major sponsor is Middle Tennessee Electric, well known in its region for community involvement and generosity to noble causes.
More than a year ago at another PHWFF event, Larry Kendzior (veteran, Florida Keys resident, recreational angler and supporter of PHWFF) met Bill Coyne, PHWFF’s Tennessee Valley Regional Coordinator. Not far into the conversation, Larry said to Bill, “Would you like to take your veterans fishing in the Florida Keys?” Of course Bill said yes, and that is the beginning of our story.
In the months following, Larry and Bill got busy looking for grants and donations from people in Tennessee and in Marathon, Fla.
So now our fishing trip begins—aboard a bus on Sept. 8, headed for Marathon in the Florida Keys.
The people in Marathon and Pigeon Key, Fla., are wonderful. Eighteen charter captains and their crews donated their vessels, time and talent for two days to take the veterans fishing. For many, it was their first saltwater fishing experience.
What a thrill it was! Back at the dock the first evening, the chatter was furious: “I caught the biggest fish ever” ... “We saw big tarpons chasing baits right in front of us” ... “I can’t believe how beautiful the water is here” ... “This is the most gorgeous sunset I have ever seen” ... “This is my best fishing trip ever” ... “You should have seen how big that shark was, it broke a steel line.” Our tired but excited veterans had had their first day of the two-day fishing trip.
Volunteers made the vets feel welcome with housing provided by the Pigeon Key Foundation and food ferried in as donations from local restaurants. But the best fish is always what you catch yourself and they caught enough to share at dinner that night.
The second day was busy with fishing until early afternoon, followed by a 9/11 ceremony. Our last meal could not have been better — steak and lobster, what a treat!
But like all fishing trips there was an end. It was awesome. All else aside, it is the veterans who are awesome. As many will tell you, their lives as disabled veterans are new beginnings. Fighting the physical challenges is the easy part. Dealing with the psychological challenges is the most formidable part. Recovery takes years.
It is the nightmares, the coping in a new environment, putting lives back together after war — that’s the hard part.
If we can share with veterans a part of our lives so they can go on with theirs, they will know someone cares. That’s what it is all about, caring. To all who made this fishing trip possible, thanks for the memories!
Marilyn Rogan is a veteran who volunteers with the Tennessee Valley Regional Office of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing.
Published October 7, 2014
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