Thank you for the opportunity to attend this hunt. It has been a dream hunt of mine for a while. I couldn’t have asked for a better venue, awesome people, and food. Leaving with new friends and experiences. Thank you so much for letting me take part in this.

J. Pool, US Army, Purple Heart recipient

Thank you for the opportunity to attend this event. The outpouring of support from the community is phenomenal. As the years go on things only continue to improve for me on my journey and it is because of foundations like you working with sportsman all across the country. The people and game that have surrounded me these past few days are a true blessing.

J. Smith, US Army, Purple Heart recipient

This weekend was nothing short of amazing! It is so humbling to know how a community is willing to come together and support a group of goofy wounded warriors. Everyone was extremely nice, and it felt like I have known everyone for years. I hope you all understand how this hospitality can be life-changing for us and a good restart mentally. Keep up the amazing work and I truly hope that I will be back in the future.

R. Beach, US Army, Purple Heart recipient

Thank you everyone for the WWIA 11th Annual PA Cast and Blast event. Nothing could’ve been any better. It’s the first time I felt welcomed back home from Vietnam except by my family.

R. Palmer, US Army, Purple Heart recipient

This experience was filled with great memories and lifelong friends. At first when we arrived and no one knew anyone, but by the last day we have created a bond. This is all thanks to the team at WWIA and all the volunteers that are willing to open their homes and spend long hours with us to provide us with a great experience. The planning and behind the scenes activities it takes to put on a great event like the cast and blast shows in the smooth operation that Sandy and his team execute. There were many stories and laughter while we spent time together. The lodge was great, we had everything we needed to be comfortable. The volunteers were amazing, they all were helpful and we’re always there when we needed something. The food was amazing! Thanks to all who were involved with the food prep. The hunts were by far the best hunts I have been on. The fishing was outstanding. I have never caught trout as big or pretty as we saw this weekend. Thank you to all the dogs that helped in the hunt, they are great. Thank you to all the fishing guides as well for teaching us and helping us land some big ones. We also had a great time shooting old and new weapons, the history lesson was very interesting. Thank you for all the live music by the campfire, they were also amazing. I want to thank Sandy and all of his team for putting on a great event that was full of activities. Lastly, I want to thank our WWIA Guides David and James, they were also great. They made sure we had all we needed. They always took care that we had a great experience. Thank you both for all you do.

J. Ichihara, US Army, Purple Heart recipient

For those looking to come to a life-changing event, this is it. You will not find a group of supporters who take better care of you. The food and attention to detail are second to none. The hunting of birds is done in a way that shows the devotion of those that volunteered in it and the fact that they want the best for the vets shows. The flyfishing is second to none. The guides and the access could not be better. I feel that this should be a keystone event for WWIA. This event allows for bigger groups to bond in a way that I did not think possible. The WWIA coordinators that were sent were also the best. Could not say thank you enough.

T. Stone, US Army, Purple Heart recipient

The last few days have been filled with amazing experiences. The community support has been second to none and the food, what can I say five-star quality for sure. Events like this help to maintain some semblance of sanity in the struggles that many of us face on a daily basis. There is nothing in the world today that is more refreshing for a struggling veteran than spending time outdoors with fellow veterans who have faced many of the same challenges in life. The bird hunting was both awesome and challenging. Flyfishing and catching huge rainbow trout was insane and something that I will probably never experience again. I have so many people like Sandy and Bob to thank for running such a great event. Thank you so much for the experience.

D. Essig, US Army, Purple Heart recipient

There really aren’t any words to describe the way that we as wounded veterans come together, whether it be Vietnam era, Desert Storm era, or Iraq and Afghanistan era. The way we have all been treated here at Gravel Spring Lodge from the hospitality to the food and the fellowship has been world class. The hunting was awesome, the fishing was life-changing! I don’t think I have ever seen trout that big in my entire life, much less had the opportunity to reel one in on a fly rod. The food here is unbelievable, I can’t tell you how many times that I was asked if I would you like something else or maybe a dessert. I will carry this memory with me for the rest of my life and the new friendship that I have made mean more to me than anything. Thank you, WWIA, Sandy, and all the folks at Gravel Spring Lodge.

D. Smith, US Army, Purple Heart recipient

“For those who have fought for it, freedom has a price that the protected will never know.” Inspired words of a veteran. In light of that, I am amazed by the overwhelming support by all who have gone above and beyond to help and assist all veterans, especially Purple Heart veterans who are still coping with PTSD, TBI and nursing injuries. The WWIA Founder, supporters and volunteers are our living angels. This cast and blast brought together a group of Warriors who bonded and created a cohesiveness instinctively. I am blessed by God to have survived to tell my story with all who were here for us in this special place called Gravel Spring Lodge. Thank you, Sandy and the amazing cooks, love you all.

R. Perez, US Army, Purple Heart recipient

This trip was beyond amazing. It is really hard to explain what this trip meant to me. From the camaraderie to the weapon shooting, to trap shooting, pheasant and chucker hunting and the trout fishing, each event brought us closer together in ways that only wounded warriors can understand. The food was always wonderful and the ladies taking care to make sure that we weren’t hungry. The atmosphere was perfect. The weather and the camaraderie and the hospitality were second to none and one trip experience I will never forget, ever.

J. Carter, US Army, Purple Heart recipient