Category: Veterans
Veteran’s Fishing Day 2022
Dozens of veterans spent Saturday relaxing, reminiscing and catching trout as part of the fourth annual Forbes Trail Trout Unlimited fishing event. This was the first time many of the veterans participated in this program. For others, it was time for reacquaintances. The purpose of the program is primarily to introduce veterans to fly fishing as a means to help heal the body and soul. But if using a fly rod is not comfortable, mentors assist the veterans using whatever fishing tackle they prefer. Some veterans have actually built their own fly rods and tied their own flies.
Navy veteran Ed Niehenke, attending his third annual event, explained “The real joy is the camaraderie of spending the day chatting with fellow vets, more so than catching fish.” But, that was offered as Ed was landing maybe his tenth fish of the day.
For retired Army First Sergeant, Cynthia Butlerperry, this was her first event and would like to see more lady veterans get involved with fishing. Cynthia enjoyed the day catching trout with her nephew, Navy veteran, Jeff Perry Jr. and friends. It had been many years since many of them had fished and they were savoring the experience.
Kingston Veterans Sportsmen Club, just east of Latrobe, was the event host and partner again this year. Keith Riffle, Club VP and President of the Veterans Committee recruited many of the veterans by visiting numerous VA medical centers, VFWs and American Legions. And he acquired food and drink donations from area merchants. A veteran himself, Keith explained, “We’re doing everything we can to make this a memorable day for the veterans! We’re going to do this up right!”
Other partners include Ken Sink Chapter Trout Unlimited, Project Healing Waters and Scout Troops 465 and 305. The Scouts, as in past events, prepared and served lunch for the crowd of over 100 veterans and volunteers. They also opened the event by posting colors and later had a flag pole dedication and flag retiring ceremony which the veterans appreciated. The new flag pole at the lake was an Eagle Scout project by Austin Painter, a Life Scout with Troop 305, and a senior at Derry Area High School.
The partner volunteers look forward to the annual event and enjoy the opportunity to, if even for just one day a year, be able to serve those who served their country. It was another successful and rewarding day on the water for all involved. Trout Unlimited salutes our veterans and thanks all of our partners and sponsors who made this all happen.
Veteran's Fishing Event Postponed
Due to an increasingly bad weather forecast calling for rain and cold temperatures on Saturday, October 1st, we have reluctantly decided to reschedule the Veteran’s Fishing Day for next Saturday, October the 8th.
All else remains the same. The event will begin at 9 am and run til 3 pm. There will be drinks, snacks and a grilled lunch served by Boy Scouts. Fishing tackle will be provided for those without their own and there will be expert mentors for those who need assistance.
Here’s hoping for nice weather and that everyone can still attend.
Veterans Fishing Day
After over two years, we were finally able to get our third veterans fishing day in on October 2. This year, the event was held at the Kingston Club lake near Latrobe and was open to all veterans. We had beautiful fall weather, a chilly morning gave way to a sunny, warm afternoon. FTTU partnered with the Kingston Veterans and Sportsmen’s Club and Project Healing Waters with Boy Scout and Cub Scout troops preparing and serving the food. Lowe’s Latrobe donated the drinks. The lake was stocked with rainbow, brown and brook trout by the Kingston Club and everyone was able to get into some fish. Mentors from FTTU and Project Healing Waters were on hand to net fish and provide assistance to those who needed help fishing. FTTU also provided loaner rods and reels, bait, lures, flies and other fishing tackle. All the veterans received raffle tickets and after lunch, prizes donated by FTTU and the Kingston Club were given out to both the veterans and some scouts.
For a full report and slide show, see the Community Service Page.
Save the Date – Veterans Fishing Day 10.2.21
After an absence due to COVID in 2020, the Military Veterans Fishing Outing is back. This year, it will be held on Saturday, October 2nd from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Kingston Veterans and Sportsmans Club in Latrobe. The event is sponsored by the Kingston Club and FTTU.
The outing is open to all active duty or veterans of the U.S. military. Participants do not need to be disabled, but 30 spots are reserved for disabled vets. The event is free but you will need to register if you would like to take part. To get registered, email us at info@forbestrailtu.org. You can also participate as a mentor or volunteer. For more information on volunteer opportunities, contact us at the same email address.
Fishing will be done on the club’s lake for stocked trout and panfish. No fishing license is required and all tackle will be provided by FTTU. Volunteer mentors will be on hand to provide help for the disabled and instruction to those who would like to learn to fly fish. A grilled lunch will be served by the local Boy Scout Troop.
We have held this event in 2018 and 2019 and it has been an extremely successful and fun day. See the Community Service page for a report from 2019 and a slide show. Hope to see you there!
More Cancellations
Sad to report that our Veterans Outing scheduled for May 2 at the Kingston Sportsmen’s Club has been canceled and tentatively rescheduled for May, 1, 2021. The family outdoors event scheduled for May 31 at Keystone State Park has also been canceled.
We will not be having a May meeting, but we may go ahead with the litter pick-up on May 6 if Penn Dot will still haul away the trash. We would all have to keep spread out. For now all clean ups are on hold. Check back here for updates.
FTTU officers and directors will be keeping in touch with each other via emails and video conferencing and will continue to plan for the future.
Some good news, two of three area Trout in the Classroom programs have released their fish and the third has the school principal feeding the trout and the fish will be released soon.
Trout fishing is still on but members are encouraged to follow common sense social distancing protocol, travel to the stream in separate cars, and bring your own drinks and lunches. Of course, most of us prefer to get as much space to ourselves as we can on the stream so that’s helpful for proper stream etiquette. See the PAF&BC guidelines in the previous post.
So, until we meet again, be careful, stay healthy and stay informed on FTTU news with forbestrailtu.org.
2nd Annual Disabled Veterans Fishing Outing
FTTU’s 2nd annual Disabled Vets Fishing Outing was a big success.
We had a great weather and a a good turn out of veterans and volunteers.
The fishing was good and everyone had a great time.
See the full report and a slide show on the Community Service Page.
Support FTTU’s Veteran’s Programs
You can help support FTTU’s Veterans Programs by buying and selling fund raiser buttons. The buttons are $5.00 and all proceeds will benefit our disabled vets fishing outing and any future events with veterans.
Contact us about obtaining a bag of buttons to sell to your fishing buddies, family and neighbors at info@forbestrailtu.org.
You can pick up some buttons to sell at our March meeting on Wednesday, March 6, 2019.
FTTU’s Disabled Veterans Fishing Outing is set for May 11, 2019 at the Foggy Mountain Lodge.
