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Vets on a Roll to the Lake

   Written by on July 23, 2015 at 12:16 pm

Last Wednesday, some of our communities came together in service to those military veterans who are disabled.  I was able to join a dedicated group of folks for the ribbon cutting ceremony of the Island Creek Veterans’ Park on Buggs Island Lake.

     ruff-frankThis facility was designed and built for all those disabled veterans and their families from anywhere in the country.  For those veterans who like to fish and be on the water, this is something that is offered in very few places.  The entire site has concrete sidewalks which allow for easy movement for wheelchairs and canes up to the pavilion or down to the fishing platform.  The disabled can maneuver into and out of boats with relative ease compared to traditional facilities.
Already the Veteran Care Centers in Virginia and North Carolina are bringing veterans at those facilities to the lake for fresh air and a chance to fish.  This has been an uplifting experience for the spirits of those who have given limbs and health for our country.
The ribbon cutting celebration on Wednesday adds a pavilion with the expectation that as word spreads of the ease of use, the families of veterans will bring them.  Often, the disabled are prevented from using outdoor recreational facilities that many of us simply take for granted.  When you or I see green grass, those in a wheelchair see a roadblock to the pleasure of going to a park for a picnic.  When we see a gravel path to the edge of the water, those on crutches see a rugged and dangerous trek not worth taking.  Often these patriots who fought for our nation have had to remain at home and not join their family on outings.
Not anymore!  Now fathers and grandfathers can come to the lake and teach the next generation the pleasure of fishing.
Fishing is only one of the opportunities on the water for those who have physical challenges.  Thanks to the vision and hard work of Scott Murray, the Roanoke River Basin Association, Corps of Engineers, and the Virginia Tobacco Commission are creating a “blueway” trail along the lake and river.  The crown jewel of this project is located at Kerr Dam.  At that location, for those with handicaps, a canoe or kayak can be boarded at the parking area and then moved down a shoot to the water and vice versa when the boater is ready to leave the water.  The goal is to have locations to go into the water up and down the river; not as elaborate as the one at the dam but, hopefully, user friendly enough for most to be able to enjoy the water.
These add to the handicap fishing platform at Occoneechee State Park in Clarksville which has been open for over a decade.
I am proud of what this area has done for those who have physical challenges.  It has come because of the hard work of many but especially our veterans.  Not just those in Mecklenburg but all around the region.  It was good to see the finished project, but I suspect that another project will rise up to continue as a beacon.  If you should want to be part of the next phase, contact “Vets on a Roll” through the regions VFW and American Legion posts.
I encourage all in the region to make others aware of these great outdoor opportunities.

We love to hear from you!  You can contact us at 434-374-5129, P.O. Box 332, Clarksville, VA  32927 or at Sen.Ruff@verizon.net.

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