RI Veterans: Healing art of fly-fishing has veterans out for the day

Photo: Veterans participating in Fly-Fishing event in Richmond, Rhode Island

Mother nature didn’t deter over 20 veterans and a dozen volunteers from fly fishing over the weekend at Carolina Fish Hatchery in Richmond, RI.

The event was a collaboration of the Providence/Warwick Vet Center, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management exclusively for service members and veterans. 

This event aimed to provide a unique recreational experience that combines the tranquility of nature with the art of fly fishing. It is an opportunity for veterans to unwind, connect with fellow Service Members and Veterans, and create lasting memories. Volunteers from the United Fly Tyers of Rhode Island organization (UTFRI) provided instruction and guidance including hands-on training, ensuring that both beginners and experienced anglers can improve their fly fishing skills.

One Coast Guard veteran from Cranston had only hoped he could return to fly fishing, which was the number one hobby he did 3-4 days a week before two car accidents, falls, and emergency surgery to save his arm last year, and spiked his Parkinson’s Disease due to multiple traumatic events in a 60-day period last June made it physically impossible to not only fly-fish, but perform many of his daily living functions.

However, after being pulled from a private nursing home which deemed him wheelchair bound for the rest of his life, and after the Providence VA Medical facility provided resources for intense physical and occupational therapy, over the weekend Dan was casting his rod like an old pro. Dan was in his happy place: fly-fishing.

“I met John a year ago and he promised me I will fly-fish one day, and again I’m fly-fishing,” said Dan. Through watery eyes he said, “words cannot describe my joy”. 

The event provided Dan the environment he felt comfortable in, and surrounded by the camaraderie of veterans, Dan was casting from shore and soon casting from a dock at the hatchery. Something he never believed would happen again in his lifetime. 

“Dan has struggled to gain back movement in his wrist and hand, ” said Dan’s caregiver John. “However, today he used his surgery repaired arm, wrist, and hand more than therapy has been able to get out of him.”

Dan’s surgery a year ago has reduced Dan’s dominant hand from being unable to hold a pen to write. His limitation didn’t stop his muscle memory from thousands of hours of fly-fishing casting from taking over.

“I’m going to add fly-fishing casting to Dan’s exercise plan to mitigate his Parkinson’s Disease,” said his caregiver.

Among the veterans was a father and daughter. Erica and Stacy Westbrook. Stacy is an Air Force veteran. Daughter Erica is a Marine Veteran.  Erica’s civilian job is intertwined with assisting veterans. However, veteran fishing events provide the time she needs to maintain her own physical and mental health. Earlier in the month, Erica participated in another veteran fishing event in New Hampshire. Extracted from her Facebook page, Erica’s profile picture shows her holding the fish she caught during that veteran fishing event.

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Space was limited and not all veterans who wanted to participate were able to due to limited resources. More fishing events are being scheduled throughout the summer. For more information, contact Justyn Charon/[email protected]/(401)-739-0167.

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All records are confidential and even the VA does not have access to the records, unless the veteran signs a release approving. The Vet Center offers confidential help for Veterans, service members, and their families at no cost in a non-medical setting. Our services include counseling for needs such as depression, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the psychological effects of military sexual trauma (MST). We can also connect you with more support in VA and your community.

The Vet Center is a community-based counseling center that provides individual, group, couples and family counseling to Veterans, service members, including members of the National Guard and Reservists and their families. They also provide community engagement, outreach, and referrals.https://vets.ri.gov/i-am-find-your-benefits/world-war-ii-korean-war-veteran/warwick-vet-center

Services Provided By the Vet Center

The Vet Center offers the following services:

• Support and counseling for symptoms related to PTSD
• Military Sexual Trauma (MST) counseling
• Family and couples counseling for military transition to civilian life
• Bereavement (grief) counseling
• Employment assessment and referral
• Substance abuse assessment and referral

Vet Center services are provided to family members of Veterans and service members for military related issues when it is found aid in the readjustment of those that have served or help cope with the deployment of a loved one. Our services are also available to family members when their participation would support the growth and goals of the Veteran or service member. If you consider them family, so do we. 

We also offer bereavement services to family members of Veterans that were receiving Vet Center services at the time of the Veteran’s death, and to the families of service members who died while serving on active duty

Contact Information for Warwick Vet Center

Warwick Vet Center
401-739-0167
2038 Warwick Ave
Warwick, RI 02889

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To read all columns in this series go to: https://rinewstoday.com/john-a-cianci/  

John A. Cianci is a Veteran Service Officer. Retired, U.S. Army MSgt., Persian Gulf War and Iraq War combat theater.

Cianci, a combat disabled Veteran, served in Desert Shield/Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. His awards include Bronze Star, Combat Action Badge, Good Conduct, and others.

Cianci belongs to numerous veterans organizations – Italian American War Veterans, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign War, and many more organizations. He is an active volunteer assisting veterans to navigate federal and state benefits they have earned. He is Department of Rhode Island Department Commander Italian American War Veterans and Veteran Service Officer.

He is a graduate of Roger Williams University (BS Finance), UCONN business school* (Entrepreneur Bootcamp for Veterans), Solar Energy International Residential, Commercial and Battery Based Photovoltaic Systems certificate programs, numerous certificates from the Department of Defense renewable energy programs, including graduate of the Solar Ready Vets Program.