ST. GEORGE – A local outdoor recreation facility is providing an opportunity for rest, relaxation, hunting, fishing and camping for wounded military veterans and their families. Patriots 4 Outdoor Resort, located at 28 Veterans Lane in St. George, provides Wounded Warriors and their families a vacation site for relaxation, hunting, fishing and restoration up to twice a year at no cost.
Joseph L. Fox Sr. and wife Hilda, enjoy fishing at Patriots 4.
Joseph L. Fox Sr., National Vice President of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, spent time last week with his wife, Hilda, at Patriots 4 where he was able to hunt and fish, bagging a button buck and seven rainbow trout.
“Randy West, one of the owners of Patriots 4, has done so much for the Iraqi Vets who have given so much for their country,” Fox said. “He gives so much of himself and his time, making sure he does things for the Veterans.”
Fox said West had a dream of building a place where he could put a lodge and some cabins.
“He needed a place where he could put the place that was centrally located in an intersection to place a store, along with land to build cabins,” Fox said. “He wants to have cabins for the five branches of the service, along with a lodge.”
Fox said Veterans can come to Patriots 4 and enjoy their time, feeling a sense of relief if they are not out of the military. “Vets can leave their problems behind and come and fish off the deck connected to the cabins or sit out by the fire. Vets can enjoy spending time with their families without any doctors or therapists. This is the best therapy for anybody.”
Fox said is a Veteran from the Vietnam Era.
“In 1968, when I came home from the war, we were forgotten,” Fox said. “We were put on the shelf and forgotten.”
Fox said he wanted to join the Marine Corps after seeing a poster of the Marine Corps uniform. When he was 17, that dream became a reality. He completed boot camp at Camp Pendleton and was deployed to Vietnam. In May, 1968, during the Battle of Dong Ha, he was shot in his arm and side, leaving him with a spinal cord injury and paralyzed from the waist down.
Fox said there are many amenities at Patriots 4.
“There is a rafting outfit and Veterans can float down the river out there,” Fox said. “In summertime, they can float and fish. By the time they reach the landing, Randy has a fire going and is ready for a fish fry.”
Fox said West served his county and continues to serve his country by helping those who served.
Patriots 4 facilities are adapted for wheelchair-bound Veterans, and a portion of the proceeds from the general store and grill helps support the Veteran’s program. Additional information about Patriots 4 is available by calling 304-478-4085 or 540-905-5452, or emailing info@patriots4.com.
