Artist: Emil Leum | Location: Florence, SC
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Artist: Emil Leum | Location: Florence, SC
Florence, SC
Emil Leum is a 30 year US Army, retired, and disabled Veteran. He served in three wars and he lost soldiers in each. Emil served three tours in Baghdad, where as a Convoy Gunner for his unit, he lost coalition soldiers and his last Commander, retired with PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, radiation, chemical poisoning and partial use of arms and legs.
He returned, finding out, after three operations that identified more internal injuries that he would be limited to many outdoor activities that he previously loved, including bass fishing. So he sold his boat, and most all of the related equipment. In 2007, he learned about fly fishing, and that the casting can be accomplished, from his waist, and with limited arm strength, detention or mobility, and through some disabled veteran friends, he learned about the disabled veterans program called Healing Waters. Through this program, he learned how to the trout flies, fly casting, and reading the water.
Emil is also a 35 year retired public school art teacher, With that background and his need to give something back to veterans, primarily disabled veterans; he began teaching fly fishing skills. Emil was working with veterans, dealing with the same issues, he was dealing with daily.
He has found the need to paint again, so he just completed his 10th painting, in his “Healing Water” series.