NEWS & STORIES
Veterans enjoy 2 days of angling at Riverbound Extreme
Veteran participants and regional volunteers from across Virginia gathered for two days fishing on the Riverbound Extreme section of Big Cedar River in Lebanon VA. The days provided great camaraderie, angling, and beautiful scenery. Additionally, a special presentation was made to veteran Clyde Compton of the SW Virginia Program during the trip. Clyde has been an active participant for over five years, starting with the Roanoke, VA Program and moving to the SW Virginia Program when it opened. Clyde uses a leg prostheses and also is blind. His enthusiasm for, and dedication to, the program and sport of fly fishing are great. Thanks to the generosity of anonymous donors, Jim Tignanelli of PHWFF Virginia surprised Clyde with the presentation of a trac chair for his use and continued development, and love of, the outdoors and the sport of fly fishing.
Clyde hearing about the Trac chair.
Jim Tig showing Clyde the dos and don’t of the chair.
Jim Tig, Clyde Compton, his daughter and grandson
During the two days on the Big Cedar River, every veteran participant caught fish and some caught dozens — including a 26 inch rainbow caught by Charles Hardyshell of the Shenandoah Program! Thanks to the generosity and support of American Legion Post 208, a fantastic dinner was provided to all in attendance on May 16th in-addition to their contribution of lunch on both days. Due to warm weather, many teams began fishing before the official 8 AM start time and finished in the early afternoon.
Special thanks are due to PHWFF National and the anonymous donors for providing the Trac Chair for Clyde — a true highlight of the trip. Also, special thanks are due to Jim Tig for coming to make the presentation, Riverbound Extreme owner Jake Musick for making the fishing available to our veterans this year (and as far back as 2005!), American Legion Post 208 Commander Charlie Nunn helper Sarge Suzanne Heller for some great food, and The Guilford Foundation for funding the event.
John Flanagan and SW Va participant Roger McClelland