Healing Waters: BNSF team member helps veterans find peace

By JEREMIAH VALENTINE 
Staff Writer 

As the flowing river water rushes by, the healing begins. Military veterans cast their lines and find rest by flyfishing in the wilderness. 

Anthony Daprato is one of those veterans. Daprato, a BNSF boilermaker based in Topeka, Kansas, leads a group of disabled veterans on flyfishing excursions almost on a weekly basis. After serving in wars such as Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq, these veterans find a different kind of community outside the military – a community of fishermen.  

The excursions are a part of the Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing organization, which Daprato has participated in since 2017. In addition to his 30 years with BNSF, he also served as a Seabee in the U.S. Navy.  

Daprato and other volunteers help fellow veterans cope with issues like PTSD, disabilities and the stresses of life. If they’re inside, they are tying flies and building rods. If they’re outside, they’re fishing or practicing casting. All the while, they’re in pursuit of healing peace.  

With each fishing excursion, Daprato has up to five veterans with him and several others from Veterans Affairs building rods or fly fishing.  

Daprato’s passion for this organization is rooted in his personal experiences and from his extended military service family. One uncle served in the U.S. Marine Corps, another was a Seabee in the U.S. Navy, and his father served in the U.S. Army Air Forces.  

It all started with Daprato’s involvement in another organization that teaches disabled veterans to kayak. After one of the leaders there told him about Healing Waters, Daprato attended a meeting and has been hooked ever since, including taking a leadership role.  

As he connects with veterans during meetings and fishing outings Daprato stays true to the military mindset.  

“It’s a world without much change and we all take care of each other,” he said. “It’s similar to the ‘I am my brother’s keeper’ mentality instilled in every service member.” 

Daprato credits his work at BNSF as another reason he connects with veterans. Learning patience and practicing effective communication have helped him with relationships in his family as well.  

“(Working and fishing) just kind of melded together, even though it’s like herding cats sometimes,” he said.  

In addition to the weekly local fishing outings, members can go on fishing trips to Bennett Springs, Missouri; Mountain Home, Arkansas; and McConaughy Lake in Nebraska. Plus, there is an annual national competition in Montana. 

The mission of Healing Waters can best be illustrated through a story Daprato recalled.  

“There was a guy who was told by the VA to join our group,” said Daprato. “At our meetings, he just sat there for three weeks and didn’t say anything. Then one day he started asking how to build a rod. Next, he became a regular after he recognized a buddy in our group. He didn’t even care about fishing. He said he just wanted to come in to talk to the guys. It isn’t all about fishing, it’s about coming together.”