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Lewiston, NY – Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA) took seven active-duty service members and veterans on a blast and cast weekend to western New York. Marines, Sailors, and Soldiers from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center’s (WRNMMC) Recreation Therapy Program took part in three days of shotgun training, target shooting, a pheasant hunt and fishing.
“It’s our pleasure to host these veterans” said Dale Shank, Fin, Feather, and Fur Conservation Society’s Pheasant Program Assistant-Chairman. “This is our third year partnering with HAVA to get veterans shooting, again. We want them to know we appreciate what they did for our country, and I hope breaking some clay targets and putting a few pheasant in their game bags helps. They deserve only the best.”
The event began with a morning of five-stand training and coaching by father and daughter team, John and Ashley Butcher at the North Forest Rod and Gun Club (NFRGC). “These guys receive so much rifle and pistol training in the military, but shooting a sporting shotgun is a different game. It’s amazing how quickly they picked up new and different shooting techniques and applying them to break clays” said John Butcher. Ashley Butcher, a competitive shotgunner on the national level, said “I get to compete and live my life the way I do, thanks to what these guys have done. It’s truly my pleasure to spend time with them.”
After training, the group toured Old Fort Niagara at the mouth of the Niagara River where it flows into Lake Ontario. Army veteran Ted Jackson, who served in Vietnam, and a fan of local history volunteered to lead the tour. “It’s a treat for me to share with these men the history of this fort” Jackson said. One Navy veteran participant added, “As much as I enjoy the shooting, the opportunity to tour this old fort and learn how it played such a key role in the very early exploration of North America is enlightening. I really didn’t appreciate how far in-land explorers were able to reach by water and it all started right here. Then to learn the military history of this fort during the French and Indian War, American Revolution, War of 1812, and even the Civil War, really means a lot to me.”
Day two consisted of more shotgun training in the morning and an afternoon pheasant hunt. “Hunting over dogs is always so much fun! We’re having such a good time,” said one Marine.
The trip wrapped-up on day three with a morning of fishing on the Niagara River and then an old-school muzzle-loader demo and shoot in the afternoon. “Everyone caught fish, except me!” said a Navy Hospital Corpsman with a big smile. He also said “shooting those old muskets was very cool! We’ve had such a great time this weekend. I am so appreciative of what all these folks have done for us.”
About HAVA
HAVA is a 501(c)3 organization formed by companies in the shooting and outdoor industry with the purpose of raising awareness and further assisting disabled veterans with their healing process through guided hunts, shooting events and other outdoor sports activities. The sustaining sponsor companies are Smith & Wesson, National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), Sig Sauer, Academi, Arnold Defense, Crimson Trace, E3 Training, FMG Publications, Glock, Hornady, Leapers/UTG, Leupold & Stevens, Mossberg, National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers (NASGW), Operation Hat Trick, RSR Group, Ruger, Savage, Surefire, Taurus, Vista Outdoor/Federal, XS Sights, and Yamaha Outdoors among numerous contributing companies. To learn more about HAVA, go to: www.honoredveterans.org.
About Fin, Feather, and Fur Conservation Society, Inc (3F)
The 3F Club is a private club dedicated to the safe, responsible, use of our Natural Resources. Conservation: Defend from waste our country's Air, Soil, Minerals, Forests, Water and Wildlife. To learn more about 3F, go to: www.3fclub.org
North Forest Rod & Gun Club (NFRGC)
North Forest Rod & Gun Club is Western New York's Best Kept Secret for shotgun enthusiasts. The club is open for public shooting. To learn more about NFRGC, go to: https://www.nfrgc.com