Mike Geary Honored With Patriot Award

For his more than eight years of work with Project Healing Waters involving instruction, mentoring, and providing trips, as well as providing employment through his business, Lewis and Clark Outfitters, Mike Geary has recently been honored with the organization’s Patriot Award. “It is Mike’s personal mission to give the best of him­self, his co-workers, and Montana’s special resources to those most in need of the nation’s indebtedness to these soldiers,” says Ed Nicholson, Founder and President of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing. And for that, we recognize and thank him.

Read the full press release in the extended entry.

NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release – July 26, 2012
Contact: Martha Kleder
Phone: 703-868-4115
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.projecthealingwaters.org

Mike Geary Honored with Patriot Award by Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing

Ovando, MT –On July 21, 2012, Ed Nicholson, Founder and President of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PHWFF), along with fellow board member Steve Laabs and Century Club member Bob Sutton, were on hand at the North Fork Crossing Lodge in Ovando, Montana to present Mike Geary the Project’s most prestigious award, The Patriot Award. Mike, who owns and operates Lewis and Clark Outfitters out of Helena, Montana, was so honored for his longtime commitment to PHWFF and the disabled active service and veterans that our organization serves.

PHWFF provides fly fishing, fly casting, and fly tying instruction for injured military personnel and disabled veterans through their various programs across the nation. Since its inception, PHWFF has been helping disabled active duty personnel and veterans overcome the obstacles associated with their injuries and disabilities. The Patriot Award is PHWFF’s highest level of recognition, for his sustained support of its mission and activities.

Randy Dix and Bob Lay, leaders of the Helena program, along with Mike’s wife Laura, were able to conceal the purpose of his visit to the lodge, so Mike was surprised when 40 of his good friends, including the lodge owners Brian and Katie Boedecker, were there to congratulate him and wish him well. Dix and Nicholson were effusive in their praise of Mike, who for more than eight years, has provided wilderness trips on the Smith River, mentoring, and employment within his organization for our most deserving injured and disabled military and veterans.

“Over the past eight years, Mike has touched the lives of well over 200 wounded soldiers and their families,” noted Nicholson. “It is Mike’s personal mission to give the best of him­self, his co-workers, and Montana’s special resources to those most in need of the nation’s indebtedness to these soldiers,” he added.

“Mike is in a unique position to help disabled veterans by providing opportunities for employment, working as guides and gearboaters,” said Nicholson. “On one of the first trips down the Smith River for wounded soldiers, a young man who had lost a leg in Iraq was a guest. Michael saw in this man a deep courage, faith, sense of optimism and a work ethic that could not be ignored. This soldier has worked for Michael each summer since that trip and now forms part of the core workforce of Lewis and Clark Expeditions,” he added.

Since his involvement with PHWFF, Mike has not only provided fishing expeditions for injured and disabled service members, he has tirelessly worked with sportsmen’s groups and industry raising funds for Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing and was instrumental in getting a PHWFF program started in Helena, Montana.

The Board of Trustees of Project Healing Wa­ters Fly Fishing, Inc. is proud to bestow on Mike the Patriot Award, for his tireless and extraordinary ser­vice to Project Healing Waters and to those wounded warriors and disabled veterans whom this organiza­tion serves.