RUMFORD — Steve Bronish of Livermore Falls is learning firsthand about the power of social media.
A simple posting on his Facebook site, Trolling with an American Veteran, “went from me offering to take a veteran out fishing to now, we’re up to nine boats and 14 veterans,” he said.
Bronish, who works at Catalyst Paper Mill in Rumford, is organizing a fishing trip for military veterans May 30 on Aziscohos Lake near Black Cove Campground in Lincoln Plantation.
“What started out as an act of kindness has turned into an event,” he said. A couple of veterans are bringing boats, he said.
“I’m loving it. It turned from a day of fishing with a couple guys to a whole armada! It should be quite a weekend up there,” he said.
Bronish got the word out on his Facebook page, writing, “If you know any veterans that would like to join us, please add them. If we don’t have enough spots on boats, there are fly-fishing and casting areas from shore everywhere in the area.” Among them are the Magalloway River, Little Richardson Lake, Cupsuptic River, Kennebago River and beaver ponds.
“There will also be guys that will take you to these spots,” he wrote.
“There are still quite a few spots available in the campground with electricity on every site,” according to Bronish’s post. “Hot showers and flush toilets are available at the huge bathhouse. They also have remote sites around the lake.”
For those who just want to sight-see, the area is known for its moose population.
“We’ve got four or five campsites at Black Cove Campground, plus one of the guys up there, Frank Morris, has offered his camp on the Cupsuptic River that will hold six guys, too,” Bronish said. “My union pitched in $25 toward the endeavor.”
Donations of food and time mean there will also be a breakfast, a barbecue and an oyster feed.
“There’s been oysters donated, some organically-grown beef donated,” Bronish said. “My daughters are coming up and will be cooking breakfast for everybody Saturday morning. My brother is going to help with cooking.”
Bronish said he got the idea for the trip from watching the fishing show, “Charlie Moore Outdoors,” on NESN. In 2008, Bronish trolled away a Tuesday afternoon with Moore for one of the episodes.
One Saturday morning while watching the show, Bronish told his fiancee, Heather McLennan, “Y’know, I’d like to do something like that. I’ve always wanted to take veterans out fishing.”
He asked her if she wanted to help and she agreed, he said.
McLennan is going to drive the boat. “She’s my first mate, I guess you’d say,” Bronish quipped.
Bronish said he loves to fish and his favorite place to troll is Aziscohos Lake.
“I love it up there,” he said. “I’d rather go there than anyplace else fishing. You don’t have to worry about 3-foot waves and the wind kicking up,” he said.
But that’s not his primary reason for the trip.
“It’s my way of giving back to the people who offered to give their all for this country,” he said. “I have several people in my family who have served and who are presently serving, including my youngest son, Pvt. Andrew Bronish, who is presently in the Army.
“My younger brother was in the Navy. I have a nephew who was in the Navy. My fiancee’s brother, Donny McLennan, was a 20-year veteran in the paratroopers, and his son, Donny Jr., is in the service right now and his daughter was in the service.
“I had lots of uncles, nephews, nieces and cousins — I could probably start a book on everybody in my family whose been in the service,” he said. “I, myself, couldn’t serve because of medical issues.”
He said thanks to people’s generosity, “there’s not really anything I’m asking for. We can have people do a good weather dance, if they want.”
Bronish said this might not be a one-time thing.
“Actually, if everything turns out good, I have been talking to the other boat volunteers who might do another this fall. But definitely if there’s a good turnout, I will make it a yearly event,” he said.
bfarrin@sunmediagroup.net
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