NOXEN TOWNSHIP, WYOMING COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)— Tucked away in Noxen Township lies 18 scenic acres covered in flags and war memorials. Many call it "The Cove."
“Patriots Cove is a place of healing, a place of purpose for injured, ill, and end-of-life veterans, first responders, and their caregivers,” explained Jeff Swire.
Co-founder and President Jeff Swire is getting ready for a busy month as they're hosting a fly fishing event this weekend and their Annual Fish for the Fallen Event Memorial Day weekend.
“It gives us a chance to focus on something else. Putting that fly in the right place and watching that trout come up out of the water, to take that fly and catch that, it’s an amazing experience and it kind of pulls you away from everything else,” Swire told 28/22 News.
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Swire says fishing and hunting are the interests that attract guests from across the country, but it’s the quality time that means the most.
The non-profit is also building a handicap-accessible underwater observatory that will give the veterans a different view of the stream and the fish and other animals that call it home.
“This underwater observatory is another layer, another opportunity for us to educate both our guests, but also people in the community about the nature, the natural state of things,” Swire added.
Swire says they couldn’t do this without partnerships like masters concrete who are helping in the project.
Co-owner Rick Masters says they share values of connection and compassion.
“We have employees that are veterans; in fact, a veteran drives this truck. So to be able to do what we can in the community is very important to us. We’re looking to help build the future of our area,” Masters explained.
The observatory would be the first ever in the country, and it’s the kind of work they do to earn respect from the community.
“They see that we work every day, seven days a week, to create the very best healing environment for our men and women,” Swire says.
The veteran non-profit plans to complete the underwater observatory project by next year.
