November 11, 2018
Issue No. 45
www.westsidenewsny.com
SOUTH EDITION
Distributed
to
Churchville-Riga, North Chili, Spencerport-Ogden
Helping veterans heal on the fly he underwent intensive recovery. Rob spent 11 months recovering from his combat injuries. Once he was recovered, he returned to Rob Burke grew up in Greece and his unit and completed another deployment graduated from Greece Arcadia High from 2010-2011 to Northern Afghanistan School in 2000. He attended college at as an Infantry SUNY Oswego where Captain. Captain he played baseball. Burke left active In September 2001, duty in the Army Rob was a sophomore after his return at Oswego when the from his final deWorld Trade Center ployment, he then was attacked by terjoined the New rorists. Rob always Yo r k N a t i o n a l had an interest in Guard as a traincivil service or miliing officer. Rob’s tary service but the military service attack on our country awards include deepened his ambithe Purple Heart, tion to pursue miliCombat Infantrytary service. man Badge, Two In 2005, Burke Bronze Star Medgraduated from colals, as well as lege and joined the many others. Army. He commisA program that sioned as an Infanreally helped aid try Officer, completed Rob Burke during his second deployment to in Rob’s recovery Ranger school and from his physiwas assigned to Fort Afghanistan in 2010-2011. Provided photo. cal and emotional Drum. Rob’s first decombat injuries is Project Healing Waters ployment was in 2007 to Iraq as a Platoon Fly Fishing Inc. Project Healing Waters is a Leader with Charlie Company, 1-87INF program that was offered to Rob at Walter 10th Mountain. He was stationed on a Reed to assist servicemen and women to Patrol Base in Northern Iraq when he recover physically and emotionally through was seriously injured while performing therapeutic fly fishing, activities and edua night raid. Rob was hit with multiple cational outings. PHWFF began in 2005 gunshots to his torso, leg and shoulder. at Walter Reed Army Medical Center to He was immediately flown to Germany serve wounded military service members to stabilize and then on to Walter Reed returning from combat in the Middle East. Medical Center in D.C. for further mediDue to the program’s success in providing cal treatment. He then was moved to the therapeutic outdoor recreation to disabled West Point Warrior Transition Unit where by Tami Raco
Fishing friends at a PHWFF Salmon River Event. (L-R) Rob Burke, Matt Smythe, Veteran and Guide, and Daniel Morgan, PHWFF Media Director. Provided photo.
In 2016 at the 10th Annual Project Healing Waters Two-Fly Tournament on the Rose River in Virginia. Provided photo. service members, it expanded nationwide. When Rob returned to Fort Drum in 2009 it was on his heart to bring this healing program to the war transition unit at his base. Burke felt the Salmon River and bodies of water located throughout Central New York would be a great place for Project Healing Waters, so he set out to make it happen. The Fort Drum Chapter began in 2009. It provided veteran interaction and offered solace in tranquil waters to war veterans from Vietnam, Iraq, the Gulf War and newly returning veterans from Afghanistan. “It provides great therapy to veterans with traumatic brain injury. The fly fishing helps with motor skills and dexterity. Regardless of the person’s disabilities and athletic ability, they can still benefit from the quietness of the stream and the veteran interaction,” Rob said. PHWFF is a non-profit organization and relies on the generosity of individuals as well as private and corporate sponsors. All fly fishing and tying equipment is provided at no cost to eligible military members. Fishing trips are also provided free of charge to the participants. As part of this program, Rob has been on fishing trips with other veterans and their spouses to Alaska, Montana and Virginia. He said, “The trips provide a great opportunity for relationship building during times that wounded veterans can become secluded. Project Healing Waters helps get them out of their comfort zone and into streams to interact and heal.” Rob was the founding volunteer with the Fort Drum PHWFF Chapter and served as the Program Leader from 2009-2011. When he relocated to the Syracuse area he became
a veteran’s ambassador for the Syracuse PHWFF Program. Rob, his wife and their two daughters now live in the Syracuse area. Rob Burke is a NYS Trooper on the Special Operations Response Team. The purpose of the Special Operations Response Team is to support the New York State Police with a tactical response to critical events and other specialized assignments within the state. He said, “I am so grateful to the Project Healing Waters Program. It has done so much for me and my family.” To learn more about Project Healing Waters or find a chapter, visit https://projecthealingwaters.org/
Fly fishing in the Salmon River. Photo by Grant Taylor Photography.