Honor Flight DFW Competitors

Project Healing Waters – More Than Just Fly Fishing For many Veterans, the hardest battles don’t happen downrange. They happen when the uniform comes off, in the quiet moments, when the mission is gone, and the weight of service lingers. At Project Healing Waters, we don’t just teach fly fishing. We rebuild purpose. We reconnect Veterans to a community. We get them back in the fight. Fly fishing isn’t just a hobby, it’s a tool. A tool for healing, for connection, for finding peace in the places that once felt unreachable. PHW provides hands-on instruction, gear, and outings, all free of charge, so Veterans can get back to something real. Something that pulls them out of isolation and into the wild, surrounded by people who understand. We work directly with VA hospitals, military bases, and community partners across the country to reach Veterans where they are. Whether it’s a warrior transitioning from service, a Veteran battling PTSD, or someone just looking for a reason to get outside again, PHW is there. This isn’t just about fly fishing. It’s about saving lives, restoring confidence, and proving that the best days aren’t behind us, they’re still out there. Veterans, donors, volunteers, there’s a place for you here. Let’s get to work.

Operation Gratitude began in 2003, when our founder, Carolyn Blashek, met a soldier who felt forgotten. From her living room, she mailed four Care Packages to deployed troops in Iraq. In the 20 years since, tens of thousands of Volunteers have delivered more than four million Care Packages, each one filled with donated products, handmade items, and heartfelt letters. These packages were more than supplies, they were tangible reminders that Americans care. Today, Operation Gratitude is one of the largest hands-on volunteer nonprofits in the country, demonstrating the power of grassroots participation in expressing national gratitude. We fulfill this mission by empowering communities, supporting local leaders, and preserving the stories that connect Americans with Service Members, Veterans, and First Responders through meaningful acts of appreciation.

Flying For Freedom is working with Help For Heroes, to embark on an expedition that will see eight injured service personnel fly microlight aircraft to the South Pole. This is something that no able bodied person has ever attempted. Microlight flying is a challenging recovery opportunity for the disabled and one that Flying for Freedom is establishing in centres around the UK. Our long-term objective is to show how Flying for Freedom can help injured former service personnel make a successful transition to civilian life and work by highlighting their ability, not their disability.