In his book, “A River Runs Through It,” Norman Maclean probably wasn’t thinking much about the VA Medical Center in Salem when he wrote the following: “I am haunted by waters. Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.”
Just like Maclean experienced in Montana – the joys of fly-fishing intertwined with the tragedies of life – veterans in Salem undergoing treatment at the VA Hospital are experiencing the same dichotomy.
Those haunting waters in Montana are now becoming therapeutic waters here in Virginia, transformed into a very special program matching military veterans getting medical treatment, fly fishermen who want to show their gratitude, and a VA staff desiring the best combination of treatments for their patients.
This program is called “Healing Waters,” a partnership between Trout Unlimited, The Federation of Fly Fishers and the Veterans Administration. It pairs disabled veterans with experienced fly fishers, to first appreciate, and then to develop the skills needed, to practice the art of fly tying and fly fishing.
“You cannot imagine what it is like for a Vet to catch a fish with a fly he tied with his very own hands. For me, it’s all about [them]. They are just great to be around,” said Chris Rowland, local Trout Unlimited Project Healing Waters program leader.
“Whether you can see a Vet’s injury on the outside or not, all you see out here when they have a rod in their hand is a smile on their face,” said Rowland, who started the program a year ago in conjunction with Mary Kay Brumfield, Ann Benois, Cathy Filicky and Tim Lovelace, of the VA Medical Center.
This same complex in Salem, which President Franklin D. Roosevelt personally dedicated nearly 75 years ago, encompasses 223 sprawling acres. Benois and Rowland agreed that two large ponds on the grounds were ideal for this type of a program, where the veterans could test their newly learned fly tying and line-casting skills on a body of water already stocked with fish.
With the right people in place, participation has been phenomenal.
“There’s no problem getting them to participate on Mondays when the Healing Waters folks come, that’s for sure,” said Benois.
Nationally, the program has seen positive results for veterans who have been participating since it was started in 2005. Benefits include re-igniting long lost passions, reducing depression and increasing self-confidence.
With so much success so far, what could be in store moving forward? Since in-patient care for these veterans is usually limited to four to six weeks, Rowland would love to work with the VA again, to create an additional program where those discharged would be able to continue meeting off-site.
Healing Waters is allowing veterans with medical issues to venture out, to cast lines, to live their lives in calmer waters…if only for a moment. “Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it…”in Salem.