Patriot Point
Image Credit: Edwin Remsberg, University of Maryland
It’s time to go home. Sounds heavenly doesn’t it. For the vast majority of us, heading home evokes a sense of comfort, relaxation and refreshment. It’s where fond memories remain, your most valued possessions are kept and stresses melt away. Try to imagine a situation in which returning home creates anxiety. You’ve been sequestered in a relatively isolated environment for months or even years, and have a difficult time conceptualizing how to re-establish, and in some cases, rebuild a life you haven’t led in quite a long while. It can be difficult to fathom, but for a healthy portion of U.S. veterans, this is an unfortunate outcome of their commitment to protecting the red, white and blue.
According to data compiled by the U.S. Department of Defense, over 132,000 service members have returned home suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. More than 344,000 others return with a traumatic brain injury. In total, it is estimated that 400,000 to 600,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffer from some form of psychological injury. In these veteran’s cases, home has taken on a much different meaning. It may be viewed as a place of unfamiliarity or displacement, far away from the world they’ve built with fellow service members in a tightly knit environment of routine, regimen and purpose.
On a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay there is a secluded, idyllic waterfront retreat that is being designed to welcome recovering service members, their families and caregivers. Aptly named Patriot Point, the mission is simple - foster an environment in which veterans can decompress, rejuvenate and engage in therapeutic recreation. It is a beautiful location, with 2.3 miles of shoreline situated on 290 acres of woods, fields and wetlands adjoining the 28,000-acre Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Dorchester County on the Eastern Shore. On-site activities and amenities include fishing, hunting, boating, archery, swimming and an art studio. In the works are extensive plans to update and replace existing buildings, to feature a multiyear campaign focused around four key areas: recreation, operations, lodging and conservation.
Don Webster and Reggie Harrell, University of Maryland Extension (UME) specialists with decades of experience in marine science, aquaculture, pond management and fisheries have been engaged with the project managers as the site is developed. With several ponds on-site, Patriot Point leadership is investing heavily in providing a high quality fishing experience for its guests, and this cannot be realized without scientific advice and analysis of water-quality, aquatic weed control and safety improvements for the various impoundments. Webster and Harrell hope to make the fishing experiences for veterans and their families as varied and rewarding as the hunting and shooting activities on the property, which up to this point have been the primary attractions.
“The DC Bowl Committee purchased the property now known as Patriot Point in the spring of 2016. Upon purchase, there were many areas where we wanted to make improvements, including to some of the ponds on the property,” said Steve Beck, president and executive director of the DC Bowl Committee.
“One of the people working with our team is Geoff Gonella, a Maryland alum and member of the UMCP Foundation Board,” Beck said. “Geoff suggested that we could use the expertise of people at the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources in creating a plan for these ponds so they can be aesthetically pleasing and also raise fish for catch and release by our wounded, ill and injured guests.
“With the help of Don and Reggie, we will transform the ponds into a valuable resource that provides a relaxing activity for recovering service members who visit Patriot Point.”
Thus far, their contributions have been extensive. They have visited the retreat to conduct water quality analysis and make stocking recommendations. Good water quality is essential for the survival and growth of fish populations, and before stocking, pond water must be in optimal condition. Webster and Harrell provided recommendations for renovating a currently shallow horseshoe shaped pond that could support excellent fishing conditions, but was in need of deepening and reconfiguration to support healthy fish stocks and ensure safety standards for families and children who might use the facility. Several meetings have been held with Tim Mitchell, Patriot Point’s property and wildlife manager, to discuss methods of removing unwanted fish populations that have become established in one of the ponds. As part of these visits, each also offered game management recommendations for current and future upland game and waterfowl hunting plans, as well as consultations on future planned impoundments.
Extension’s contributions to this project extend beyond aquaculture. In its development plan, Patriot Point wants to feature alternative crops to help diversify its operation and make it attractive to wildlife. Webster and Harrell recruited Emily Zobel, the Dorchester Agriculture Faculty Extension Assistant, who advised on terrestrial weed control to help stimulate growth of select crops. Zobel will also help Mitchell and his staff work towards optimal crop choices and management practices to promote the best possible yield. “This project came to me from the dean of our college and the associate dean/associate director for Extension, and shows that they, as college leaders, are very committed to projects designed to assist our veterans,” said Webster. “I am a Vietnam vet and my oldest son was in Desert Storm. Patriot Point’s farm manager is a Vietnam vet as well. Reggie and I want to provide the best for them - especially wounded veterans - and places like Patriot Point are a great asset in helping them adjust and manage physical and emotional problems.”
The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources plans to consistently seek out opportunities to help veterans succeed in transitioning back to their lives at home, according to Webster. “I have also been in conversation with a disabled Vietnam vet who is interested in finding a location to obtain a shellfish lease and teach vets how to raise oysters,” he said. Webster currently heads UME’s Oyster Aquaculture Education and Training Program, which conducts a series of programs annually to rebuild the industry.
Governor Larry Hogan’s administration is also involved in a new workforce development project that will include veterans as a priority group. While coming home may be a difficult reality for some veterans, Patriot Point offers a place for them to heal, adapt and rebuild the necessary confidence to move forward and lead successful lives. The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources is proud to play a role in helping provide the best possible environment and experience to facilitate this transition.
“Through our work with Patriot Point and beyond, we will keep working on veterans initiatives to explore how the college can best participate and assist in helping this group of selfless individuals lead better lives,” Webster said. “We feel this is just a small way in which the college can give back to a few individuals who sacrificed so much for us to enjoy the freedom we experience in this country,” Harrell concluded.
This story was featured in the 2017 edition of Momentum Magazine.
