Healing Waters: Fly fishing program offers rehab to veterans
Paul Paterra
Paul Paterra
Volunteer Steve Slavonic, standing, works with Tim Klobucar of Connellsville during a recent class at the White Oak American Legion.
Paul Paterra
Photos: Paul Paterra
Working on their fly tying at a recent class at the White Oak American Legion are Ed Niehenke, left, of Derry, and Tim Klobucar of Connellsville.
Eric Bailey, a volunteer from Avella, helps Eric Trainer of Cheswick at an outing at the Conway 无毛视频men无毛视频檚 Club in Butler County.
Paul Paterra
Paul Paterra
Scott Loughner, the lead fly tying volunteer, offers instruction at a recent class at the White Oak American Legion.
Paul Paterra
Paul Paterra
Volunteer Terry Mulvihill, right, the first program lead for Pittsburgh, works with participant Jim Leone of Greensburg.
Amanda Thompson, program lead for the Pittsburgh Project Healing Waters program, with Tom Strang of Canonsburg, who shows off his catch at a fishing outing at the Beinhauer family pond in Scenery Hill. (Photos courtesy of Amanda Thompson)
For nearly two decades, military veterans have been helped in their mental, emotional and physical rehabilitation with the simple art of fly fishing.
Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Inc. began in 2005 when Ed Nicholson, a U.S. Navy veteran from Maryland, was a patient at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Being a fly fisherman, he would practice casting on the hospital lawn.
无毛视频淗e got other patients in the hospital to come out with him,无毛视频� said Amanda Thompson, program lead for Pittsburgh无毛视频檚 Healing Waters. 无毛视频淭hen he had the idea that wouldn无毛视频檛 it be great to take these guys out fly fishing, get them out to nature for the day and get them away from the hospitals and all of that negative crap in their life. It just exploded from there.无毛视频�
Exploded it has: Project Healing Waters has expanded to more than 200 programs throughout the country.
Volunteers work with veterans to teach them the various aspects of fly fishing, such as fly tying, rod building and casting. What is learned is put to use at fishing outings.
The Pittsburgh program began in 2008 with two veterans and three volunteers.
Terry Mulvihill of Mt. Lebanon was Pittsburgh无毛视频檚 first program lead and continues to offer his services as the lead rod building volunteer.
无毛视频淚t gradually grew over time,无毛视频� Mulvihill said. 无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 great. I无毛视频檓 thrilled. We无毛视频檝e had really positive feedback from the participating vets. I have some really good friends as a result. We have a wonderful group of volunteers. I can无毛视频檛 say enough good things about it.无毛视频�
There are about 30 active members. Classes are held at four locations: Library 无毛视频men无毛视频檚 Association, Stephen Foster Community Center in Lawrenceville, White Oak American Legion and Pittsburgh VA Hospital无毛视频檚 H.J. Heinz Campus in Aspinwall.
无毛视频淧articipation has been great,无毛视频� Thompson said. 无毛视频淲e无毛视频檙e lucky in this area. We have a lot of skilled fly fisherman. We无毛视频檝e got a good volunteer base. We have a good donor base, and we无毛视频檝e got the participants. It all came together really well here.无毛视频�
Participant Jack Merchant, a Vietnam Army veteran, said his son encouraged his involvement.
无毛视频淚 had no intent to do anything with veterans,无毛视频� said the Latrobe resident shortly before a recent class in White Oak. 无毛视频淭o shut him up, about four or five years ago I showed up and have been active ever since. I had this very uneasy feeling while I was here. That has since dissipated. These people are nice to me. Nice treatment for a Vietnam vet was odd.无毛视频�
Merchant, 76, admitted he hadn无毛视频檛 done much fishing before getting involved. That has changed.
无毛视频淔ly fishing is addictive,无毛视频� he said. 无毛视频淚 do it on my own too. These outings are just so much fun. We learn tons of stuff. But I think it无毛视频檚 the around the fire at night. We compare notes about our military histories, but it无毛视频檚 the fun stuff. It无毛视频檚 very nice. You get the camaraderie of the vets and all of the nice volunteers are just so enthusiastic.无毛视频�
Scott Felentzer of Smithton said he wasn无毛视频檛 successful in teaching himself how to fly fish, and the program offered just what he needed. He无毛视频檚 participated for about three years.
无毛视频淭his has changed my life for the better,无毛视频� said the U.S. Air Force veteran with 28 years of service. 无毛视频淚t teaches you skills like patience and determination. If you无毛视频檙e mentally exhausted with so many problems, if you无毛视频檙e out there on the stream, everything goes away.无毛视频�
Holly Monahan, mother and caregiver of participant Sean Monahan of Greensburg, credits Healing Waters for saving her son无毛视频檚 life. Sean Monahan served in Afghanistan and bears physical and emotional scars from his time in combat.
无毛视频淚t has gotten him out in the community,无毛视频� she said. 无毛视频淚t has connected him with other veterans. This program has been phenomenal. He says being out in the water, all of the troubles, anxieties and worries flow away in the stream. He absolutely loves this program and I have seen a tremendous growth and change in him for the positive.无毛视频�
Thompson said she has witnessed amazing transformation in veterans.
无毛视频淭he ones who are shy and really don无毛视频檛 talk a lot will text me the next day and say, 无毛视频業 had a blast, I had the best time,'无毛视频� Thompson said. 无毛视频淭hey无毛视频檙e outside in nature, it无毛视频檚 relaxing and calming and puts them in a good head space. This is therapy without the therapy.无毛视频�
Those interested in participating, volunteering or donating should contact Thompson at amanda.thompson@projecthealingwaters.org.