REGION — Steve Bronish of Livermore Falls is learning first hand about the power of social media.

A simple posting on his Facebook page “went from me offering to take a veteran out fishing to now, we’re up to nine boats and 14 veterans,” he noted.

Bronish, who works at Catalyst Paper in Rumford, is organizing an event for veterans the weekend of May 30th on Aziscohos Lake near Black Cove Campground, located in Lincoln Plantation. Besides a day of fishing, donations of food and time will mean there will also be a breakfast, a barbeque and an oyster feed.

Overwhelmed with joy how big this has gotten is an understatement, said Bronish. “What started out as an act of kindness has turned into an event.”

He wrote on his Facebook page,” 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. Magalloway River, fly fishing only (headwaters of Aziscohos Lake and the outlet), Little Richardson, Cupsuptic River, Kennebego River, various beaver ponds. There will also be guys that will take you to these spots.”

“There are still quite a few spots available in the campground with electricity on every site. Hot showers and flush toilets available at the huge bath house. They also have remote sites around the lake. Or if you just want to come up and site see. The area is well known for its moose population. You don’t have to go far (sometimes even in the campground) to see a moose.”

Bronish now has a Facebook site for event, called “Trolling With an American Veteran.”

He said, “We’ve got four or five campsites 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. My union pitched in 25 bucks towards the endeavor and I’m not really sure of the names, but there’s been oysters donated, some organicly-grown beef donated. My daughters are coming up and will be cooking breakfast for everybody Saturday morning. My brother is going to help with cooking.”

Bronish added, “I’ve got a couple veterans who are bringing boats up themselves.”

Where did Bronish get the idea to take a veteran fishing?

He said he watches a fishing show, Charlie Moore Outdoors, seen on NESN. Back in 2008, Bronish trolled away a Tuesday afternoon with Charlie Moore for one of the episodes. Every once in a while, they’ll show re-runs of the episode was in with the mad fishermen.

“I doubt if Charlie Moore would recognize me now. I’ve lost 230 pounds,” Bronish noted.

One Saturday morning, while watching the show, he said to his fiancee, Heather McLennan, “Y’know, I’d like to do something like that. I’ve always wanted to take veterans out fishing.”

“Before I did anything, I asked her if she wanted to do this with me, and she said, ‘Sure, I’ll do it,” said Bronish, adding that McLennan is “going to be the one driving the boat and stuff until I get everybody situated. She’s my first mate, I guess you’d say.”

Bronish loves to fish and his favorite place to troll is on Aziscohos Lake. “I love it up there. I’d rather go there than anyplace else fishing. You don’t have to worry about three-foot waves and the wind kicking up.”

But that’s not his primary reason for this event.

“It’s my way of giving back to the people who offered to give their all for this country. 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,” said Bronish, who noted many other family members have also served in the military.

“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 Paratrooper’s, 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, adding, “I, myself, couldn’t serve because of medical issues.”

Bronish said this event has grown much larger than he ever imagined. “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 added that 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 is thinking that this may 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 turn out, I will make it a yearly event.”

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