Bill DeArmond's Fishing Report
At the Meetings
Chapter 1028 Newsletter
Honor Guard Commander Dan Wilson (L.) receives a Certificate of Appreciation from the Sate of Missouri. Member Dennis Filla makes the presentation on behalf of LTC (MO) William R. Smith, Director Missouri Military Funeral Honors.
Fundraising November 6th
Vietnam Veterans of America
Meeting November 3rd, 2021
Dan Crowe pictured with the majority of fish they cleaned.
Chapter 1028 Newsletter
Meeting October 6, 2021
END OF PAGE
PROJECT HEALING WATERS FLY FISHING (PHWFF) takes great pleasure in presenting the Phil Johnson Exceptional Leadership Award to Kenneth House for his dedicated and inspiring service to our organization from 2010 to 2021. During this period, his selfless efforts and extreme generosity were directly responsible for the growth and continuous improvement to the PHWFF St Louis Program serving as its Assistant Program Lead.
In 2009, Ken started with the PHWFF St. Louis Program as a participant. As a lifelong outdoorsman, the program’s fly fishing activities seemed to form a perfect combination to enhance his skills and enable him to bond with other veterans. After a short time as a participant, Ken’s passion for helping others moved him to a volunteer role and then shortly after, the Assistant Program Lead. For more than 10 years, his leadership, energy, and in novation achieved success for the PHWFF St. Louis Pro gram, other regional programs, and increased program awareness.
As a Vietnam Era United States Air Force Veteran, his experiences and compassion for the program’s participant remain evident throughout in his selfless service to our organization. He always provided calm guidance and clarity of mission by humbly acknowledging successes and recognizing others. As a volunteer leader, Ken spent countless hours on recruiting, training, wading safety, organizing fly fishing outings, fundraising, and communicating the Program’s effectiveness to others. His focus and genuine concern always remain on healing and nurturing the pro gram’s participants along their path towards post-traumatic growth. Ken is an avid collector of all things fishing and always produced newly acquired historical, antique angling gear that leads to the education of the sport for all. His stories can draw out the most reserved to ask questions and want to learn more.
In 2020, with the new world of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ken and his wife Miriam assembled numerous fly tying ‘kits’ for the St. Louis Program’s Participants. Each kit contained enough to make eight flies with multiple different patterns. He then created a first drive through pick up for supplies to reduce risk of COVID19 transmission. The gratitude from participants etched in the minds of all because of his time to make the event happen. His presence makes the program stronger, more committed, and successful. Ken’s community involvement with other veteran service organizations puts him as a front runner in securing donations, being able to articulate the mission and tell his personal journey of how this has touched lives. Since 2014, Ken’s ability to promote the program secured more than $24,000 in funds.
Ken’s influential leadership extends beyond the PHWFF St. Louis Program. In addition to serving as an Assistant Program Lead, he also volunteers with the Salvation Army, Disabled American Veterans, Vietnam Veterans of America, Boy Scouts of America, and is a faithful servant of his church. His community involvement and expanded reach opens doors for our Cause and is a key reason for outpouring of community support. All who know Ken will attest to the positive impact the program made on their lives and the role model of selfless devotion, mentoring, and leadership he provided to its volunteers and participants.
Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. is proud to bestow upon Kenneth House the Phil Johnson Exceptional Leadership Award for his tireless and extraordinary service to our organization and to those wounded, ill, and injured Servicemen and Servicewomen and disabled Veterans whom this organization serves.
Pledge of Allegience to start the Meeting
Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PHWFF) presented Chapter Member Ken House with "The Phil Johnson Exceptional Leadership Award" for his many years of service to the organization.
OCT - DEC 2021
The fish Bob Hanak and Bill DeArmond caught ; probably about 30 pounds.
Dierbergs Telegraph Market
DeArmond with two of the big slab crappie they cleaned for lunch or take home.
At the November 4th monthly meeting representatives from the Lutheran Senior Services spoke about the opportunities and services provided by the Christian organization for senior Veterans.
Meeting December 1st, 2021
Gone Fishin'
Gary Hutchison Memorial Chapter 1028
Beautiful Fall flowers blooming on Tom Becker's farm
Tom Becker's covered boat dock has a small bar in the middle with a fish cleaning station on the front right corner.
On Friday, October 1st eight members from the chapter went fishing in Tom Becker’s lake South of Herman, Missouri. Those attending were Dan Crowe, Bob Hanak, Tom Oplt, Mike Lumma, Walt Glover, Rick Kerman, Bill DeArmond, and Jim Weible who also brought his son in law Jeff Campbell. About half of us arrived by 7:30, and started fishing immediately. It was a rainy morning misting on us early before becoming mostly cloudy which is ideal for fishing. Bob Hank and I (Bill D.) walked down about ¼ mile toward the dam and fished the banks in and around a little cove. By 10 a.m. we probably had 30 bass, hybrid bluegill and crappie. I finally walked around the cove through the grove of trees, and fished the other side where I caught at least 30 more. Jim Weible and his son in law Jeff came down and joined us. I almost got tired of catching fish if that’s possible, and worked my way around to Bob Hanak who graciously let me empty my stringer twice into his basket. At that point I was done fishing, and walked up to get my fillet knife. Three times that morning Tom Becker took small groups of the guys out fishing from his pontoon boat powered by a small outboard engine. Tom Oplt says that he hooked a giant bass that went around three sides of the pontoon boat before snapping his line. I filleted fish for more than an hour with some assistance from Bob Hanak and Tom Oplt who attempted to teach Walt Glover how to fillet. Walt (AKA Samurai Filleter) is the only person in the world to fillet a 10 inch hybrid bluegill, and get a one inch square fillet. Tom Becker fried up a good portion of the fish along with a few pounds of potatoes. Walt Glover brought coleslaw and someone made brownies. This is the ONLY way to eat fish; half hour after they are swimming in the lake. There was so much fish that all took home fresh fish fillets. I would encourage more of you to join us next year if the invitation is again extended to us. A special THANK YOU to Tom Becker for having us out. All of us enjoyed the day immensely. Bill DeArmond