Bragg N' Barn Makes it Happen for Heroes

The Bragg N' Barn, a local thrift shop on the Fort Bragg post, awarded a $325 donation to the Fort Bragg/Cape Fear chapter of Heroes on the Water.Michelle Little, Chapter Coordinator, said that the contribution will directly support our primary mission of getting folks on the water to experience the benefits of kayak fishing and the outdoors, and we are incredibly grateful."

On Thursday, May 17th, Manager, Christiane Leake, and Assistant Manager,Gwen Hudson, with a Certificate of Appreciation for their support.

Details about the Bragg N' Barn can be found on their website http://www.fbthriftshop.com/home.shtml. More information about Heroes on the Water can be found at http://www.heroesonthewater.org.



Freedom Captured.

Erie veteran heads up Texas-based Heroes on the Water program

For many veterans, coping with the horrors of combat is a lifelong battle in itself. Many return home only
to face a long and emotional war against the memories of fighting overseas.

Kody Wilson has taken his post-war life  down a productive avenue to help other combat veterans in the healing process. Wilson, a 2004 graduate of Erie High School, is the coordinator of the Brooke Army 

Medical Center chapter of Heroes on the Water (HOW), which is an extension of the Wounded Warriors program.

Wilson lost his left leg following a tour-ofduty in Iraq in an improvised explosive device  (IED) attack. He also sustained a fractured femur and heel in his right leg, a shattered left elbow and three fractures in his spine, along with a mild traumatic brain injury. He underwent rehab at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

Read more at http://dl.dropbox.com/u/72650552/March_24_25__2012%20article%20on%20Kody.pdf

Freedom Captured.

This is HOW I say thanks.......

 In the past, I have been blessed with many new opportunities both in business and in my personal life.  I cherish the work that I have done and currently do on a daily basis, but I often find myself getting anxious to get home and spend time with my son.  You see, he is growing up before my eyes, albeit too quickly for my tastes, but nonetheless, it is happening.  I wasn't blessed with a spoiled childhood, but I wasn't deprived either.  My parents took did what they could to provide for my sister and I and I am thankful for it.  I pride myself on trying to teach my son what it means to give thanks and show appreciation towards others.



I truly wish there were more hours in the day, because I constantly find myself wanting to do more......more for my family, more for my friends and most recently more for HOW.  That's Heroes On the Water for those of you that have never heard of it.  HOW is an non-profit organization founded by Jim Dolan in Texas and goes to great lengths to show appreciation and gratitude for the sacrifices and loyal service our military service members have made.  As a former service member myself, I know of the pains and struggles of being separated from your family and friends unexpectedly due to a deployment.  I know of the challenges faced abroad when you are sent into a foreign country in the spirit of protecting the premise of human rights.  I too know what its like to fear for one's safety during a time of conflict.

We were blessed with a mild day albeit with windy conditions, but the day was a success on many levels.  We were able to have a safe and fun outing on the water.  We were able to lead the service members to the right areas and they caught several fish.  We also succeeded in having family members of the service members on the water at the same time and getting them involved in the catching of fish as well.

Read more at http://froggin4bass.blogspot.com/2012/04/this-is-how-i-say-thanks.html

Freedom Captured.

Ft. Hood Heroes on The Water - First Report!

On Saturday, 14 April 2012, our first outing was held by the Ft. Hood HOW
Chapter. Although small in execution, it was huge in starting the great
things to come. We braved tremendous winds with one great American by the
name of SPC Shann Saunders.

This was not Shann's first time fishing from a kayak. Shann managed a small
bass and a big smile. We have scheduled two more outings in April and hope
to fill the four kayaks we have with participants as we are on our way to
establishing ourselves in the central Texas region.
We welcome other wounded warriors in the Ft. Hood area to  contact us if interested in participating in a future outing.  

Freedom Captured. 

HOW salutes ‘Welcome Home a Hero’

The Welcome Home a Hero program at DFW Airport ended after 7 years 9 months of service on March 14, 2012. Since the program’s inception in June 2004, North Texans welcomed home more than 920,000 troops over 2,900 days at the DFW Airport location alone. More than 10,000 individual volunteers and groups greeted troops as they returned for two weeks of rest and recuperation – from school children and business professionals to community leaders and veterans – each one to show support and make a difference in the lives in our returning soldiers.

A special “thank you” to all who participated.  There are still many ways to support the troops and show our gratitude to the men and women in uniform. Heroes on the Water is listed in the brochure as one of the non-profits making a difference. Visit http://www.heroesonthewater.org/ and find ways to get involved.

Volunteer champion, Donna Cranston, with the Defenders of Freedom, was at the airport every day during this period with the exception of a few vacations that she took with her family. She was recognized by Lt. General Campbell and other dignitaries for her service. The U.S. Army closed Personnel Assistance Point operations at DFW Airport in response to a decrease of deployed service members in the Middle East.

Freedom Captured.

"Welcome Home a Hero"

Its Brain Health Awareness Week ....

In time for Brain Awareness Week, March 12-18, an article by the Center for Brain Health in a recent newsletter focuses on Traumatic Brain Injury and its effects.

                                   

Heroes on the Water has served thousands of injured active duty military and veterans, and over the past four years has helped many of them realize  breakthroughs while dealing with the challenges of Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder through kayak fishing and the outdoors.

This article helps us to better understand the challenges many of our veterans face upon returning home and in reintegrating with society.

                                    Traumatic Brain Injury

    

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), a form of acquired brain injury, occurs when a sudden trauma causes damage to the brain. TBI can result when the head suddenly and  violently hits an object, or when an object pierces the skull and enters brain tissue. With military members, this is often the result of a concussive blast or  explosion. Symptoms of a TBI can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the extent of the damage to the brain.

Read more about TBI here

http://veterans.vermont.gov/healthcare/tbi

http://www.oasas.ny.gov/tbi/severity.cfm

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tbi/tbi.htm 

Heroes on the Water Impact: 

“I will never forget one of the kids we took fishing on the coast,” said Jim Dolan, HOW’s national coordinator.  “He was totally lost in whatever had happened to him in the Middle East and, when he responded to our questions, his responses usually consisted of one word. “The first fish that he caught resulted in a big grin.  Forty eight hours and several fish later, he was looking us in the eye and speaking in three or four word sentences.  We didn’t cure that kid but we put a crack in the shell where he was able to see something other than his own problems.”

Freedom Captured.

25 Wounded Warriors Kayak Fishing at San Pablo Reservoir

What a fantastic day for 25 wounded warriors from 5 different Veterans Administration in-patient clinics who  went kayak fishing with the Northern California Chapter of Heroes on the Water... We had perfect weather as the day before was hard core rain. Volunteers numbered close to 30 and vets were greeted with homemade breakfast burritos…  This could have easily been the highlight of the day as they were so good!!! Lunch followed with HUGE hamburgers, chili dogs, fruit, potato salad, Tabouli, soda, chips..etc… etc...

Vets started deploying on the water, some with one on one guides and others in groups. Another group just wanted to shore fish and immediately we had a hook up which got everyone excited. About 6 of the vets we never saw again till we had our bass boat go out and call them back in.. easily 3 to 4 hours out on the water…

Many stories of the big ones that got away and some that did not. Many other first time experiences of vets who have never caught a fish, and especially from a kayak.

Everyone including the therapist had an excellent time and could not say enough about HOW and what we were doing.

Special Thanks to East Bay Municipal Utilities District for making this so easy to put on, helping us with fees, quagga muscle inspection and just being a fantastic host.

Here is a link to ncka.org with our local report…
 http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,36333.0.html

Norcal HOW…
All is well….
Don Anglin, Chapter Coordinator

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