Wounded Veterans Find Healing Waters in Islamorada
Sixteen wounded veterans were recently hosted by local volunteers and fishing guides out of Worldwide Sportsman. The veterans had two days of guided fly and spin fishing on the flats of Florida Bay and the patch reefs of Islamorada. Veterans came from as far away as Wyoming and caught snook, permit, tarpon, and mangrove snapper.
The event was coordinated by local and national non-profits. The Tavernier Elks Lodge, through its Vets on the Water outreach program, led local logistics and provided fundraising support. The sixteen veterans came from Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, a national non-profit organization dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled service members and veterans. Project Healing Waters uses fly fishing and fly tying as rehabilitation vehicles and last year helped more than 7,000 veterans around the county.
Upon arrival the veterans were greeted by a giant American flag hoisted atop a ladder truck manned by Islamorada firefighters from station #20 on Upper Matecumbe. Several local businesses including Worldwide Sportsman, Islamorada Fish Company, Bayside Marina, Reef Runaround, Florida Keys Electric Cooperative and Islamorada Investment Management also helped sponsor the event.
Former Marathon resident and frequent Keys visitor Larry Kendzior, a volunteer with Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, said, “This event keeps getting bigger and better. It’s my favorite week of the year, by far. This is my fourth year of coordinating this event in the Keys, and my hope is that starting next year, Islamorada will be a permanent home where our wounded veterans can come and fish to every year.”
Mark Gibson, a wounded veteran, fishing captain and local Elks Lodge member, said, “I’m thrilled to be a part of such a worthy cause. We had some local captains step up in a big way. It’s a lot of work, but I personally know what these veterans are going through, and I hope they can find the same peace and solitude out here that I do. A huge thanks to everyone who helped!”