Conococheague – Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
7 June 2008
As Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Project Healing Waters I get to see firsthand the generosity that is shown our organization on a regular basis. I see it in the work of our many volunteers, the financial contributions and from the many lodges, land owners, outfitters who share their water with PHW for outings. Still I must admit that I was incredibly touched when the whole community comes together like they did in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania last week for our troops.
Darv Stutz as the ring leader of the Chambersburg outing put on one heck of a great day for PHW. Darv was ably assisted by IWL members Merl Waltz and Tom Cutchall in obtaining the venue from the local Franklin County Chapter of the Izaak Walton League to involving his Chapter of TU (Falling Springs TU) and his friends from the Penn National Fly Fishing Club (including Board member Steve Labbs, Randy Patterson and Mickey Finn )—the event was first rate.
The picturesque waters of the Conococheague which run through the Walton Meadow provided the perfect location for great Rainbow and Brown Trout fishing for the dozen or so troops from the Fort Belvoir WTU and Walter Reed Hospital. Warriors in attendance included: Dale Cherney SSG, Greg Cartier 1LT, Grayson "Norris" Galatas SFC, Ferris Butler 1LT, Andrew Hillstrom SPC, Andrew Hill SGT, Ceamus McDermott SFC, Michael Ornelas SGT, John Goodrich SPC, Thomas Wymer SPC, and Robert Good SGT.
The day began with locally donated Starbucks coffee and donuts as the Warriors rigged their rods for the morning session of fishing. Darrell D. Veilleux from the Chambersburg Rod and Gun Club had heavily stocked the stream for our fishing pleasure with some big boys. While the fishing started off a little slow soon the first fish was landed. A nice 16 inch rainbow was brought to the net by one of the Walter Reed Soldiers. Several others followed through the morning until we decided to take a break for lunch.
Lunch was an amazing assortment of Championship grade pulled pork, barbecued chicken, baked beans, coleslaw, and potato salad all provided by Darv’s Son-in- Law Chris Hall who is a competitive BBQ Chef under the team name of Big Ugly’s BBQ. Chris was himself active duty military before he was medically discharged. He lives in Perryville, MD and works at Aberdeen Proving Ground. The food was really fantastic and the troops ate until they were fat and happy. And as if the lunch was not enough food, sweets prepared by Darv’s wife Sandy were then brought out. What is it the famous quote? “An Army marches on its stomach.” With all of this food we could have marched to the moon and back.
After lunch it was back on the stream for more bruiser browns and bows. The flys of choice seemed to be the black woolly buggers and assorted prince nymphs and hares ears. While the fishing never got fast and furious it did pick up as the day went on and most of the troops landed a fish or two by the time we had to load up and head back to Walter Reed and Fort Belvoir.
As we broke down our gear and headed for the transport van each of the participants was given prize packs for the ride home with snacks, hats, fly fishing books and a cold bottle of water. What a great day and what wonderful hospitality. Thank you all for a fantastic fishing trip.
