Healing Michigan Veterans Through Nature – Macomb Daily

With Lake St. Clair as a backdrop, Will Moriarty (left) talks about how the nonprofit organization The Fallen Outdoors and its adventures in the great outdoors helped change his life. Joining him is The Fallen Outdoors event coordinator and fellow veteran Micky Brooks. GINA JOSEPH – THE MACOMB DAILY

Fifteen years ago, three soldiers sat on a mountaintop in Afghanistan and talked about how much they missed hunting and fishing and how much they couldn’t wait to get home and enjoy these peaceful pastimes.

When they returned home, they returned to the outdoors but invited others to join them. And with each subsequent trip, no matter where they were sent, the interest grew from other soldiers and veterans who wanted to participate in these therapeutic outings.

Until it finally became her mission.

Now the trips are part of a program funded by Fallen Outdoors, a national nonprofit based in Washington, DC

Since the organization’s founding in 2009, thousands of men and women have benefited from the group, whose membership has grown to 300,000 nationwide.

“We’re in 42 states now,” said Micky Brooks of Chesterfield Township, event coordinator for the Michigan chapter of The Fallen Outdoors. “We’ve done 350 trips for about 500 veterans.”

The trips Brooks and his team have taken range from bear hunting in areas across the state to fishing on Lake St. Clair, Tippy Dam and the Upper Peninsula.

“Anyone can enjoy the outdoors to find inner peace or calm,” said Brooks, who retired from the U.S. Army Police Corps after 22 years and whose wife is also a veteran.

The trips are definitely a great way to relax and unwind, but for many others, they’re an opportunity to reflect and connect with people who may have had similar military experiences, Brooks said, whether it was a specific deployment or military duty.

For Will Moriarty of Macomb Township, it was a lifesaver.

“I love it. I’ve been on four or five trips,” Moriarty said. “They took me on my very first salmon trip.”

Before joining the group on a trip, Moriarty said he was more of a homebody or drank in bars.

He has become an avid outdoorsman since traveling with The Fallen Outdoors. When he isn’t working as a security guard at the Selfridge Air National Guard base in Harrison Township, he can be found fishing at Lake St. Clair or traveling with other veterans, which is the beauty of this organization – it helps reintegrate veterans into society.

“It’s completely changed my life. I even got married last month,” he said before grabbing a fishing rod that was stored in the back of his truck along with other outdoor gear. “I’m always ready for the next adventure.”

For your information

The Michigan chapter of Fallen Outdoors, which is dedicated to organizing therapeutic trips for military members and veterans, will host a fundraiser with proceeds benefiting the organization and covering the cost of the trips, which will be provided free of charge to active military members and veterans.

WHEN: August 17th from 5pm to 9pm

WHERE: VFW Post 7573, 35011 23 Mile Rd, New Baltimore.

Cost is $50 per person and includes dinner, silent auction and raffle. The Michigan office of Fallen Outdoors also accepts donations.

For more information or tickets email [email protected]