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Heroes On the Water
Healing wounded spirits...
Restoring warriors' hearts |
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On the Water
After spending a fantastic week of fishing while on vacation at South Padre Island (practicing retirement!), I realize more than ever how exciting and at the same time healing, kayak fishing can be. Being out on the water offers adventure in search of elusive quarry, while calming the mind and soul in those quiet moments out in nature. HOW Chapters have kicked off spring with kayak fishing excursions for injured active duty military and veterans in their areas. Our goal is to do a better job of sharing the local stories and pictures via our website and Facebook. Connect with us, 'friend us' on FB and stay tuned. Join us this Memorial Day in honoring the sacrifices of those serving our country, especially those who have died or are wounded. "Carry the Load" offers a unique opportunity to give back and Heroes on the Water is a proud beneficiary of this effort. Learn how you can participate and read the article below. See you on the water!
Jim Dolan President |
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Carry the Load - Memorial Day 2011 to Benefit Heroes on the Water
The mission of Carry the Load is "to bring meaning to Memorial Day by honoring the sacrifices made by members of the military, law enforcement officers, firefighters and their families while serving our country and communities, especially those who have died or were wounded while carrying the load for their fellow Americans." The cause encourages Americans to thoughtfully celebrate Memorial Day the right way and to instill in our children patriotism along with an appreciation for the freedoms we enjoy as Americans.
Carry the Load is raising awareness and steering resources to established organizations that provide services and support to the citizens and families that serve us sacrificially every day to ensure our freedom. Heroes on the Water is the Patron Beneficiary for this year's Carry the Load and will share in receiving a generous contribution from Carry the Load along with other deserving non-profits. Centered around an event Memorial Day weekend, individuals, families or teams will walk as long as they want to...one hour, 3 hours, or all 20 hours and 11 minutes . Just carry more than you have to, further than you think you can on a 9.3 mile loop around White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX. Clint Bruce, founder and chair of Carry the Load, believes "when you 'carry the load' you make a sacrifice and live a richer life through service to others, just like those who serve in the military, police and firefighters. With Carry the Load, we are giving Americans a way to honor those who serve, and an opportunity to show their patriotism by giving back." Whether near or far from Dallas, you can support Carry the Load by donating, participating and/or volunteering. Your participation will make an impact by: - Making Memorial Day about people, patriotism and service
- Teaching our children patriotism, public service, integrity and an appreciation for America's freedoms
- Honoring the sacrifices made by members of the military, law enforcement officers and firefighters while serving our country and communities, especially those who have died or were wounded
- Helping the wounded and fallen by raising awareness and funds to help them, and their families, get the care they need
We invite you to join us this Memorial Day in honoring our military, law enforcement officers and firefighters by carrying the load for these brave men and women and their families. Commit to make a difference and visit the Carry the Load website for more information and become a friend on Facebook.
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Hooking New Fishing Buddies
A benefit fishing tournament was held on April 16th to raise funds for the DFW Chapter. Held at Johnson Branch State Park on Lake Ray Roberts, the day brought success on many levels, including reports like this one from one of the guys - Shaun. He was fishing with Jeremiah.
"Hey everyone. I just fished my first Heroes on the Water Kayak Fishing Benefit Tournament. I'm not new to bass tourneys, but this was a new experience for me. It was a benefit tournament but I had the pleasure to be paired up with a young vet that wanted to fish.
He was very shy at first. He said he had been spending most of his time hanging out at his house since he came back. I didn't ask him any questions about what he had been through. Instead we just fished. I noticed he too was a little camera shy, so I put the camera away quick and we just spent time visiting. It was cool to see this young man start to get a big grin on his face as we paddle farther, and we caught more fish.
It will be a experience that I will not forget for a long time. We exchanged phone numbers, and he said he was going to go get a kayak and start getting out more. I made a new friend yesterday. And I feel like I was the one that was blessed to have a new fishing buddy for the day.
We had a awesome coordinator for the HOW event named Josh Neumeyer. He did a great job putting together the event. And making sure everyone had a great time.
If anyone is wondering about fishing one of these events, I highly advise you to give it a shot. I can't wait till it's time to take more vets out. It was very rewarding to see a simple genuine smile coming from a good person."
Shaun
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 Our Heroes
Dear...
"At the Oak Island Tournament, Mark informed us that you were unable to participate and wanted to donate your registration fee to one of the Soldiers with Heroes on the Water. Of course, all of us felt very honored that someone would contribute their registration to us; however, they voted me as the recipient since I was the elder member of the group.
To give you some background, I was injured in Iraq and med-evaced to Landstuhl, Germany and then Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Once a competitive mountain biker and runner, I was reduced to a cane with limited mobility. I was not able to do the sports I use to do or even go to a ball game and sit in the stands with my friends. The medicine kept me groggy and added unwanted weight. In short, I was in the lowest place I have ever been in my life. That was until I was introduced to Heroes on the Water (HOW), and the Cape Fear Coordinator Kaleb Dutil. HOW and Kaleb could not have come into my life  at a better time.
In March 2010, they needed some females to participate in a fishing event near Greensboro. So I signed up since I had grown up around the water as a kid. Unfortunately, the day did not go so well and I had to keep pulling up onto the wooded bank of the pond and get out in order to stretch my back and legs in hopes that would relieve some of the pain and pressure. The kayak seat I was in kept pressing on my spine, and the awkward positioning placed all the weight on my hips.
To say the least, I was miserable; I couldn't even fish in a pond without my injury being an issue. At the awards ceremony, I just sat in the corner with a fellow battle buddy waiting for the medicine to kick in. I had no idea who Kaleb or Heroes on the Water was, but he came up and sat with us. We started talking, and he asked why I stopped fishing so early. He told us he was a fellow Marine and after I told him the type of kayak I had fished in for the day, he said he knew the perfect kayak that would allow me to fish and paddle while standing or sitting. He invited us to his home, and his wife greeted us with some warm treats.
We fished the next weekend at Fort Fisher, Crossover 4, in a Native Ultimate 14.5; and I had the best time I had had since returning to the states. My friend and I were hooked. We started building a salt water tackle box, converted some of my dad's old rods, and set up another trip with him.
By September 2010, we had fished with Heroes on the Water almost every month. When we weren't with them, we fished fresh water from the bank just for practice. Then the kayak fishing fever took us one step further, and approximately 3 weeks ago, my friend and I bought our first kayaks, Ultimate's of course, and entered the tournament. She won 2nd place in the Red Fish division (23 �"), and I took 2nd with my trout (15 3/8"). We received some cool prizes; but most importantly, we had found a sport that we can both do despite our disability. Most people don't even realize our injuries when we're on the water; and honestly, that means more than winning any tournament.
I wanted to give the registration money to the Cape Fear HOW Chapter so they could continue to help Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines like they've helped me. Hence, I donated the funds towards the two TFO rods Kaleb was auctioning off; and he raised over five hundred dollars for his HOW chapter. Best of all, my battle buddy won the TFO bait caster and another gentlemen that contributes to HOW won the TFO spinning rod & reel.
I am not sure of the details involved with your injury or illness, but I pray for you and your family. Most people are not that generous, particularly when their family is facing a hardship; but you still thought of us despite your situation. Thank you for donating your entry to folks like me that just wanted to find something they could do versus all the things they could no longer do. It truly makes a difference, and you are a part of that.
Thank you from the Military veterans and HOW,"
HOW Participant
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